Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 97

Liana POV

"I didn't expect to see you," Mother sighs and closes her eyes as she pulls her hand out of mine.

It stings that she is still refusing any form of contact with me. But if I must be honest with myself, I did not have high hopes that she would.

"You might've written me off, but I'm still your daughter," I say patiently. "That won't change, not even in death."

"A miserable end to a miserable life," she groans as she reaches for the painkillers.

I pick up the glass of water that is on the side table and hand it to her. Without a thank you or any form of acknowledgement, she takes the glass and swallows the pills.

"I assume your father told you about my condition," she leans back against the pillows.

"Yes," I reply softly. "I would've helped if I knew."

"Help," she snorts sarcastically. "Nobody can help me."

"Mom," I swallow on the lump in my throat. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," she smiles at me, and I am taken aback about the sincerity of it. "I'm finally going to reunite with my loved ones."

I look down at my hands as I think of Leon and the grandparents she is referring to. I am grateful that she is at peace with her ordeal, but I pray she does not say such things in front of Father. It must be hell for him to watch his wife dying. "Well, you have loved ones here who will miss you terribly," I say softly.

"You shouldn't love me," she looks at me and the hardness in her eyes makes my blood chill. "I never wanted you."

To hear her say out loud what I have always suspected rips the last piece of hope I clung to shreds.

"Why, Mother?" I pull my shoulders back. It does not matter how hard it will be to hear her answer, I want to know. I need to know so that I can move on with my life. "What is it about me that you cannot stand?"

"You ruined my life," she snorts. "I got pregnant with you and was forced to marry your father."

"Hold on," fear grips my heart as the worst scenario pops up in my head. "Were you forced to marry him because he got you pregnant or another man?"

"Relax," she rolls her eyes. "He's your dad. He's so besotted with you, it's sickening. I wanted to be a model. I was ambitious and pretty. I wasn't going to settle for a poor man and have his kids. I was going to marry rich and have the world at my feet. But your father was in love with me and persistent that I should go on a date with him. So, I did. Unfortunately, I got pregnant and made the mistake of telling him. He was much older than me and I was a month shy of turning eighteen. He went to my parents and begged them to marry me. They were just so happy that he was willing to do the right thing, they didn't even listen to my plans about having an abortion. So, I had no choice but to kiss my dreams goodbye and become a wife and mother. Over the years, I wanted to leave this place more than once, but then Leon came, and I stayed. If he didn't get injured, he would've made it to the top and I could've finally gotten away from here."

Guilt swarms through me as I protectively cross my arms about my stomach. At one point, I considered aborting Wolfie. It would have been the worst decision of my life and an irreversible mistake. Considering abortion is so easy. Until you realize you could have never been born. Sure, I did not have the easiest of life, but I had life. The only difference between me and my mother is that I considered abortion not because I did not want the baby, but because I thought it would be best for all concerned. Mother wanted to abort me because she did not want me.

"Thank you for telling me," I smile and look at Mother with fresh eyes.

Everything just clicked for me. There was nothing I could have done differently to make her love me. She is not incapable of love; she is incapable of loving me. I was the worst thing that happened to her, and she blames me for the derailment of her life. I still love her, and I always will. She is my mother and the only mother I have ever known. But I no longer carry the burden that I am not good enough.

"What?" She snorts. "No resentment or tears? You're always so dramatic and emotional."

"No," I shake my head. "I needed to hear this. It's like you've finally cut the umbilical cord that connected us. A cord of bitterness and resentment. You blamed me for all your wasted ideals and dreams. I am the manifestation of everything that went wrong because you couldn't keep your legs closed."

"Says the one that's about to pop," she snorts.

"This child was conceived out of love, Mother," I say firmly. "I'll admit that it was unplanned, but not unwanted. I didn't marry the father because I was forced to, I married him because I love him."

"Well, sure," she shrugs. "He's rich. I would've loved you too if it meant living in luxury."

"I'd rather be loved and poor than rich and alone," I say adamantly. "And before you say it's easy to say that when you have money, remember who I am and where I come from. I know exactly what it is to be poor, Mother. Not only poor in possessions but poor in love. I am after all your daughter."

She does not say a word as I stand up.

"Rest assured, Mother," I give her a pitiful smile. "You will die in luxury. I will make sure of that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She frowns.

"Exactly that, Mom," I reply softly. "You will lay in the finest bed with the best medical care. You can eat what you want whenever you want. People will serve you as if you're the queen. And once you're surrounded by the best that money can buy, you'll realize that the void inside of you is still there. That you wasted your life yearning for something better when you could've been happy if you appreciated what you had. Because you had it all, Mother. You might not have had the best, but you weren't homeless, hungry or unloved."

She looks at me for a moment before she turns to the window and ignores me. Axel POV

Hastily I park the car. I am eager to get back to Liana. Over the years her parents have put her through hell, and it kills me not knowing if she is alright.

I am about to get out when my phone rings and I bite back my irritation as I answer it.

"Alpha," David's voice is serious. "Remember that Luna requested eyes on Gwen?"

"Yes," I frown. Gwen can go to hell for all I care, but it was important to Liana, so I agreed to it.

"Gwen tried to commit suicide," David informs me. "I wasn't sure if I should inform you or her."

"You did the right thing calling me," I sigh and push my fingers through my hair. Liana has her parents to deal with, heavens know why she bothers with Gwen.

"The boy," I say quickly when the realization hits me. From the very beginning, Liana was concerned about the child. Not so much about the parents. "Is he okay?"

"The boy is with his parental grandparents and safe," he replies. "Gwen's at the hospital. She took a bunch of pills, and we don't know if she's going to make it or if she's going to lose the baby."

"Keep me informed," I bark and disconnect the call after we said goodbye.

I gather the groceries I bought and walk with long strides to the trailer.

Liana and her father are sitting in the kitchen drinking tea and her face lights up when she sees me.

"Thank you," she kisses me on the cheek before she starts unpacking the bags.

"Are you okay?" I whisper as I help her.

"I am," she winks at me, and I relax a little.

"Thank you, Axel," her father says, and I turn to face him. "For everything."

"You're welcome," I smile stiffly. They are Liana's parents, but that does not mean I like them. Not after they put her through hell.

"Dad," Liana looks at him. "Why don't you take Mom a cup of tea? Axel and I will continue with this."

"Sure," he nods and pours a cup.

"What's wrong?" Liana asks softly once we are alone. "You look troubled."

"You were right about Gwen," I sigh before telling her.

"We should go," Liana looks at me. "We can't do anything for Gwen, but that child didn't ask for any of this. If Wyatt's parents don't want him full-time, we need to help." "Yes, Luna," I smile as I look proudly at her.