Chapter 25

"She is scared of other things too, but she will never let you know." Damon continued to fill his son in on details he didn't fully comprehend. Did you know that she can't sleep in complete darkness because it makes her feel paranoid?"

Angel gave him a blank stare.

"I thought so." He chuckled and poked his son's face. "So, you must be a man and let her feel safe around you. For a darling as cute as you, you only have to smile and kiss her, and her fears will instantly fade away."

"Enough rambling. My son doesn't even know what nonsense you are going on about." Avery called him out for stalling for time.

Having been found out, he kissed his son's forehead and turned to Avery, leaning over. Their faces were so close that she could swear he was going to kiss her, but he didn't. He was gone before she could process it and she hated her phone for ringing when it did. When Damon's car disappeared into the distance, she thanked her phone for ringing and interrupting the insanity that had started to buzz in her mind. Why was she reluctant to let him leave? She was either going crazy or worried that Angel would miss him. Of course, it was because she was worried that her son might be sad about his papa's departure. That was all there was to it.

She glanced down at her phone and wanted to groan. The Vaillant family, again?

"What do you want, Amelia?" She answered in the most unfriendly tone. It wasn't even fake because she felt nothing but repulsion from the moment she saw the digits plastered across her phone screen. He gently put Angel down so she would not accidentally hurt him in her infuriated craze.

As usual, Amelia started off by playing the caring mother card. "How have you been?"

"Awesome until you called." She did not mince her words.

"I've been fine too. Your father and I have been missing you."

"If you don't get straight to the point, I'll hang up." She threatened and her thumb actually hovered over the red circle on her screen.

"We found out who the father of our grandchild is." She sounded excited, which must be part of her act.

Our grandchild, huh. Of course they would refer to Angel that way if they thought there was something in it for them. She remained silent for so long that her mother decided to continue her speech.

"It's such an awesome coincidence that the D'abovilles and us have a grandchild in common. Our kids are in love! It just so happens that your father and I are trying to get them to accept our proposal on a project that could save our asses. There might be a closed bid for it but that will not be necessary if they decide to partner with us. Could you have your baby daddy pass the message to his grandfather?"

Avery's lips twitched in disgust. Was the woman on the phone really her mother? She really wanted to check her DNA again. Sadly, the results would just wind up being the same as they were every time she doubted Amelia was her mother and did the test.

"Mrs. Vaillant, you are being delusional. First of all, my baby daddy has a name. His name is Damon. Or Demon. Whatever. As long as it suits him. Secondly, if you did your homework a little more beyond what excited you, you would know that Damon and I are no longer together."

"So what? You have his son in your custody." Amelia interrupted.

"That brings me to my most important point." Avery rested her head against her palm as she enunciated every word. "My son is not bait.

Even if I had the means, I would never help you out. How many times do you want to have this kind of discussion?" Avery almost yelled.

Amelia was infuriated, as expected. "You ungrateful skank! Have you forgotten everything we did for you?"

Ungrateful skank.

She was probably the only mother who would call her daughter that. She once again questioned whether she really was in that woman's womb for a day, let alone nine months. Because although Angel happened at what she felt was the worst time and was the reason why his father dumped her, she loved him more than her life.

Her second round of questioning her identity in a row ended in her spilling what she had been holding in for years. "Perhaps no one told you this, Amelia, but motherhood is not just about you and your husband making a baby. You have every right to have a DINK marriage but when you decide to have children, you are obliged to raise them and provide everything they need. It's not a sacrifice. It's your role. Don't use it to lord over me! Not to mention, did you even fulfill the said role? What right do you have? Forget knowing how I felt growing up in your toxic family. You probably don't even know my middle name!"

"How dare you take that tone with me? Even if I didn't give in to your attention-seeking whims, I'm your mother!" Amelia raised her voice and it probably had everything to do with her being ashamed after being told off.

Avery hung up and blocked the contact number. She had said it before but perhaps part of her had been reluctant to really cut off ties with the Vaillant family. But after that call, the thought of having no family no longer dampened her mood. She sent a text message to Mina and asked how to legally dissolve familial ties with one's biological family.

While waiting for a reply, she glanced at the only family she had left; the little boy playing with his favorite figurines.

She picked the clueless boy and placed him on her lap, kissing his cheek and hugging him to her chest. "If you ever feel sad about anything, tell mommy about it. No matter how petty you think it is."