Severine hadn't visited her mother since the start of the academy's new session two months ago.
Even when her father reminded her, she kept delaying it. But with her mother's call, there was no other way around it.
So, on the Sunday morning, she found herself staring at the iron gate of the nursing home.
This was a private haven, built solely for her mother, Isabella Vale.
In a way, this was Isabella's 'Winterhall Enclave.'
Home, huh...
The ache in her arm was bearable enough that she had left her sling inside her car.
She followed the same path she had walked hundreds of times, nodding at the polite greetings of the servants.
How old was she back then?
Nine.
It all began spiralling out of control from then on. Isabella had shifted to this nursing home almost a decade ago. A year after Austin Lockwood had returned home with their father.
When she reached the outer garden, she noticed her immediately.
The sunlight fell on the tall figure carefully pruning the flowers as the head servant followed closely behind her.
Her long silver-white hair was tied into a bun, while a few strands framed her delicate face.
Her lips were pursed, giving everyone a silent signal not to approach, while her attentive golden eyes settled calmly on the work she had been doing.
Despite having different features, their aura held an uncanny similarity.
Cold and distant.
"Mother," Severine willed herself to call the woman who looked familiar yet unfamiliar.
Isabella turned at the call. Her stern features softened when she noticed her daughter.
When those golden eyes flicked toward her arm, Severine's nerves tensed.
Sure enough, the news of my injury has traveled from Vale Mansion to my mother's ears.
The slight wrinkles around Isabella's eyes deepened when she smiled.
"You are here," she said before motioning toward the pavilion where servants were placing the things in order. "Let's sit there."
Here comes her same command.
She preferred the bitterness of the coffee over the sweetness of tea. Yet her feet moved as if on autopilot.
Isabella was a Swan Awakener, carrying the same kind of elegance and charm. Many still wanted to marry her.
Her father was also an Awakener. Yet she was just an average human. Nothing special.
Hence, in front of her Awakener mother, she had no place to show her rejection.
Suppressing such thoughts, she sat in her seat.
The pavilion only held two chairs surrounding the round table. A porcelain kettle let out a steam as a hint of grassy floral scent stirred in the air.
It reminded her of the red tulips she had seen a few days ago.
Will she like it? She wondered as she watched the woman approach.
"I heard you are having trouble at your academy?" Isabella said while pouring the tea into two small cups and offering her one.
Those words were enough to put Severine on alert. Her gaze dropped to the tea leaf inside her cup.
"Nothing much. Just a scuffle."
That was how her vice-president dismissed her back then. Much to her own amusement, she used those same words to defend herself now.
Isabella hummed, taking a sip of her favorite tea. "Scuffle should end soon. You have better things to focus on, have you not?"
"... Yes."
The garden fell silent. The servants were standing at a respectful distance, far enough to hear anything, but close enough to rush over if anything happened.
Honestly, nothing like that had ever happened.
Severine knew her mother's refusal to leave the man who had destroyed her life was an act of defiance.
Using her mental illness as an excuse, the lady had built her own sanctuary.
What puzzled her was Isabella's actions. The lady still refused to divorce.
In a way, there was indeed something wrong with her mother.
Her fingers clutched the handle, bringing the cup to her lips. The sweet liquid spread on her tongue, bringing the same discomfort.
"Is the child of Rhodes in your class?"
Severine's throat tightened. It took her a second before she replied.
"No. We are in different majors."
Isabella shook her head. "Ah, what a pity. It would've been good to make friends with him."
So, she doesn't know about the incident?
That made sense.
The head lady would tell Isabella about her life. But considering she hadn't talked about it with Aunt May or her father, it was normal that they didn't know the actual situation.
As for her injured arm, it was impossible to hide from her mother.
"Austin is joining in on a new project. What are your views on it?"
Views?
Severine was baffled. She had no idea about any new project, let alone the fact that Austin was joining in.
Considering her father's actions, the boy would most likely be directing the team from the shadows. If he did a good job, it would open up a new path for him.
For her, that meant a rival.
"... I will keep an eye on the situation."
"Sigh."
Sweat prickled her neck, and her fingers tightened around the cup. Her mother's sighs were rarely ever a good sign.
"No matter how nice Austin pretends to be, he is an Awakener. And a man at that. His beastly nature is rooted in his blood."
Severine had heard that kind of contempt too many times to count.
There were no words to lessen Isabella's pain. All she could do was stay silent and listen.
"He won't hesitate to push those disgusting fangs into you. You, on the other hand, lack the courage to act on the given chance."
What kind of courage would it take to bring a real smile to Isabella's face? Severine had no answer to that.
Perhaps Isabella finally noticed how pale Severine had turned, so she changed the subject.
"Dr. Martin had been researching a new drug."
Severine's heart skipped a beat before it started to thud almost painfully inside her chest.
Dr. Martin was an infamous researcher. He had been on the wanted list for his immoral experiments on humans.
His work was all related to the concept of forcefully changing normal humans into Awakeners.
And her mother was asking her to be his specimen for the experiment.
"It will take some time, though. A pity. So, you still need to endure for the time being."
How long? Severine desperately wanted to ask. But her lips wouldn't obey. Her gaze remained fixed on her hand cradling the cup.
At least there is still some time, she consoled herself.
She could do better and prove to her mother that she didn't have to be an Awakener to take over Vale Corporation.
My company is doing well. All I need to do is put a bit more effort. Yes. That's it.
Before her heart could settle down, her mother's next words made her eyes snap at the lady.
"I looked into someone to be your partner. Here," Isabella passed her notepad to Severine. "Take a look."
She took the cold device with equally cold hands.
The concept of husband had no meaning to Isabella anymore. It was better to form a marriage alliance with a good partner.
Severine knew Isabella's ideology. But she hadn't expected it to fall on her so suddenly.
I'm only twenty. Can't mother wait a little longer?
With her spine straight, she tapped the screen to open the folder, only for her iris to shrink.
Of all the people in the world... how can it be him?!