Chapter 48

"Welcome back, mommy", Ray said once Taria entered the house, wiping away all the exhaustion and tiredness she was feeling

"Hello, sweetie, how was your first day?" Taria said, taking off her shoes and going straight to hug her son

"Not bad", Ray said calmly

"Well, my day was full of things. Let's talk after mommy prepares something to eat, ok?" Taria said, patting Ray's head softly

Taria and Ray ate together while she was talking about her day and he was listening to her, however, a call ended their family time. Ve called Taria and told her that she and Ray must come visit as it was almost THAT day, and he told her that he would send someone to get them at the weekend. Taria felt heavy, yet she can't keep Ray away when it is related to his own father's third death anniversary. Some memories of that day snapped in her mind, sending chills over her spin, yet looking at her son eating peacefully made her a lot better.

Ray has his father's appearance, his black straight hair that shines under the light, his black sharp eyes that give deep looks, and even his white soft skin and cold limbs. She saw her lover every time she saw their son, yet she only sees good memories in him, leaving aside all the dreadful ones that she wishes she could forget.

"Is there something on my face?" Ray said

"No, honey, I was just thinking", Taria said

"About father, right?" Ray said

"Yeah, you know that you look just like him, and I always remember him when I look into your eyes", Taria said with a smile, however, the look in Ray's eyes got deeper and sharper

"Sorry, mommy. Sorry for reminding you of him", Ray said, making her chest tighten

"Don't say that, you know mommy and daddy loved each other, and mommy love you too, so much", Taria said

"But dad left us alone, I don't love dad, I only love mommy", Ray said

"DON'T SAY THAT", Taria shouted, then she looked at Ray with a sharp look and said "your dad would have loved Ray a lot if he was still alive. People can't avoid death, and your father never left us on purpose, he was forced to by death itself. Ray, your dad is the reason you exist, so you must respect him even if he isn't here with us", Taria said, then she got up and went to her room.

The deep look in Ray's eyes got deeper after his mother shouted at him for the first time, and he could realize that that topic was something his mother didn't want to talk about, yet he wanted to know more about his father, especially as his mother never mentioned anything about him other than being a good person and her one and only lover, to make it more exact, Taria never even mentioned the name (Tian) in front of him, and he knew about his father's name thanks to Josephine and his uncle. Ray got down off the chair, took his plate to the kitchen and went to his room.

The son of the Leo family was intelligent, so intelligent to the point he was already able to read and write even though he was still three years old, and he was going to start his trainings the next year when the normal age for them are six, however, his intelligence was the reason behind his coldness, and behind his mother's worries. His father got cold after a psychological shock, yet Ray was born that way, building walls around him, being calm and sharp all the time, and more than that, taking the responsibility of himself and his mother like a mature young man.

After some days, it was finally the day where Ray will visit the Leo family mansion for the first time. Taria and Ray woke up early and packed their belongings for the weekend, then they went with the driver on a road Taria knew well while Ray was still discovering for the first time.

"The road will be so long, you can sleep if you want", Taria said, patting his head

"I would be fine, don't worry", Ray said, then the journey to the past started, a journey to a place Taria laughed, cried, and lived at for so many days, yet never visited for years.

After five hours as usual, they finally reached the mansion. Taria held her necklace as well as Ray's hand, she took a deep breath to calm down her heart, then she took a step inside the mansion while memories she never forgot started flowing into her mind.

"Welcome back, Taria and little brat", Ve said

"Brother Veeeee, I missed you a lot", Taria said while running to hug him and dragging Ray with her

"Nice to meet you again, uncle", Ray said

"Still as cold as ever, that would be good", Ve said

"Don't say that, he is still a child", Taria whispered

"A part of the Leo family can never be labeled as a child. Your son has our strong blood inside him", Ve said, walking into the house again

Taria and Ray went to their room, the room Taria used whenever she stayed at the mansion. When she entered, a heavy feeling surrounded her heart. The same large bed seemed smaller for her, the same wide window seemed tinier, and even the walls that got painted white for her seemed so dark. On the other hand, Ray was able to feel his mother's nervousness just by looking at her bright eyes that were losing their sparkles slowly. He was already aware of what his parents went through after he asked Josephine, and he completely understood his mother's feelings as she was forced to get back to somewhere with memories all over, yet he didn't know what to do, so he stayed silent.

Taria was so quiet, and Ray never asked, and after a while, Ve's voice broke down that deadly silence that was covering the room.

"Are you ready?" Ve asked, and Taria nodded her head and got out of the room, wearing black from head to toe.

Taria, Ray, and Ve went to the graveyards to find Josephine standing there. Maids were waiting at the entrance holding three bouquets of white roses, and they handed them to the three of them before they entered. Taria was walking calmly, hiding hundreds of cries and screams inside her broken heart. When she reached his grave, she knelt down and placed the bouquet over it. She stared at his name written on the gravestone for a while, then she stood up with tears on her cheeks and a smile on her lips.

"It's been a long time. Our son got to kindergarten for the first time this week, and I started teaching math at an elementary school. My students are so nice and the teachers are nice too. I'm living my dream now, but it would never be completed as long as you are not by my side, but I forgive you, I really do, I only wish you were still here", Taria said, then she wiped her tears and turned back to face Ray and Ve.

Taria nodded for Ray to come closer. He walked towards her and placed the flowers beside the ones she placed. After that, Taria asked him to say something to his dad.

"I don't really know you, but everyone says that your blood is running through my veins", he said, then he knelt down and murmured "that's why I would never forgive you".

Taria and Ray clasped their hands, then they closed their eyes and wished that Tian would be happy wherever his soul is, or that was what only Taria did.

Taria and Ray went to the lake side that night to get some fresh air. She stayed silent, with a pale face and lifeless eyes, looking at the lake that she used to stare at for hours, but unable to see it as her mind was blank. The cold wind blew, leaving her hair to flow and shine brightly under the moonlight, yet even her hair strands didn't bother her as they used to do in the past.

Ray was staring at his mother as he never saw before. The woman he thought unbreakable seemed so broken to him. Her eyes that were always sparkling turned to be darker, and her soul was obviously shattered. He started hating his father more after seeing how he was able to crash his mother's soul into million pieces, yet he didn't say anything about that, knowing that Taria would get mad if he did.