Elise stared at the couple standing in front of her. She heard a knock and when she open the door, she found her son and his wife standing outside her bedroom. None of them looked upset nor discomfited or rueful, though. Infact, Leo looked zestful and pleased. Not the sight she expected at all.
Elise retreated and allowed them to come in. She went to find a seat and gestured on the couple. "You may take a seat but...." Elise paused and turned to Leo. "I remember calling for Charmaine, but what are you doing here, Leo?"
Leo led his wife to the sofa and they both sat across his mother. "I want to hear what you're going to say. I don't want anyone bullying my wife." he stated. Who knows what Adele told his mother! He was never the kind to go against his mother, but he has a wife to protect now. He understood that much.
Elise held her forehead. "Am I such a person to you? When have you ever seen me bullying your people?" she lamented. Did her children really think she's an unreasonable person?
Leo looked away. "Well, if you didn't call for Charmaine to scold her, then what do you want to talk about?"
"A bet." Charmaine answered in behalf of Elise. Leo looked at her with a baffled expression but she didn't elaborate what she meant.
"So... who won?" Elise asked with a smile.
Charmaine shrugged her shoulders. "I guess you did." she replied. "You were right."
Elise's smile widened. She relaxed and took a deep breath. "Well, it's your win, too. You're officially my daughter now." she jested. Somehow, this win made her proud and overwhelmed. Leo didn't cheat. The son she has always been proud of is a way better man than his father.
Leo who was being ignored furrowed his brows. What's that bet all about? A bet where in if Elise won, she'll accept Charmaine as her daughter in law? Isn't that just strange? Shouldn't it be she'll accept her if Charmaine was to win?
Elise who was receiving Leo's stare noticed her son's bewilderment and gestured at him. "How long are you gonna sit there and pry into women's business? Go find your son if you have nothing better to do. I'm not gonna eat your wife."
Leo thought for a while and then turned to Charmaine. Seeing her nod, Leo had no choice but to leave them alone. He stood up and left the room.
"Have you talked to Adele?" Charmaine asked after Leo left. "Seriously, I don't know what to feel about all these." She didn't want Adele to stay but it's definitely not her call.
Elise lowered her head. "I'm very sorry. This is actually my fault." she uttered. "The reason why I'm lenient to Adele and asked my kids to treat her very well was.... because Adele had an abandonment trauma as a child. Her parents divorced when she was only six and since then, Franc said she's been acting different. She.... was later on diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder." Elise paused. It was something Franc didn't want anyone to know. But maybe it's fine to tell Charmaine. "Franc was very careful around her. He told me to avoid anything that might upset her. She had suicidal tendencies as a child and taking care of her has been my responsibility ever since I entered their household."
Charmaine stared at Elise's helpless expression. She can sense her years of exhausting efforts to accommodate Adele. Luke also suffered from abandonment trauma after Jienna passed away. She wondered if she has catered well enough to his needs. Still, she can't just let Adele continue her quest to ruin her family! She also has a son she wants to protect!
"I know how you feel. But I think you should make it clear to her that her pursuit is pointless. Leo already said it- he doesn't like her and he never did." Charmaine commented. She has never talked to Elise like this before. She's actually being nice and considerate. If only Adele would behave herself, they wouldn't have any more problem.
Elise nodded. "I'll do that." she uttered before standing up. "Let's go have dinner. I'll talk to Adele later." she told Charmaine. Plus, there's still Laura. She still needs to talk to her about her boyfriend. She's been absent from her own kids' life that she felt useless around them now...
***
During dinner, everyone sat around the table and enjoyed Laura's cooking -except Adele. She locked herself inside her room and wouldn't talk to anyone; not even to Elise. She was worried but she couldn't do anything about it. She silently ate her meal while Laura looked at the quiet people around her with her curious eyes.
"Where's your daughter?" Laura asked her mother in a sarcastic way. "She's so sick she's skipping dinner?"
Elise turned to Laura who was sitting on her right. She looked at her for a while before replying her with another question. "How long have you been dating Ivan Gray?" she asked.
Laura rolled her eyes. If she didn't want to talk about her step-child, she should just say so. Why does she have to change the topic just so she could shut her up?
"We've already broken up. There's no need to talk about him." she responded.
"Why did you break up?" Elise mumbled.
That question annoyed Laura. She was about to make a mean comment when her phone suddenly rang. Distracted and irritated, she decided to just excuse herself and leave the table to take that call.
Leo watched as Laura left. He then turned to his mother who was also looking at Laura's way. "Don't ask about that person anymore. He doesn't deserve my sister." Leo remarked before averting his eyes and focusing on his meal again.
Elise glanced at his son. "Why? What did he do?" she asked.
"He dated Laura with no intention of marrying her. She already wasted five years of her life for him. I think it's more than enough." Leo explained without even looking at his mother. His usually expressionless face is now looking sour and vexed.
Five years... That's quite a long time. But why would he stay with Laura for that long if he didn't love her? Or was he one of those men who doesn't believe in marriage? She was about to ask more when Laura suddenly came back from the living room. She looked dazed when she came in the dining room and turned to Leo.
"Brother, I'm going out for a bit. I need to meet a friend in trouble." Laura told him. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." she added before turning around and leaving in a rush. She didn't leave Leo any chance to say no. It was as if she's attending to a very urgent matter.
"What do you think could it be?" Charmaine asked to her husband beside her. Laura looked worried. She wondered what happened.
Leo shook his head. "No idea." he uttered.
***
Elise looked at the time before leaving the living room. It's almost nine but Laura still wasn't home. Did she return to Chelsea? She's a bit a worried about her and....
Elise ascended the stairs and glanced at Adele's room as she was reaching the first floor. She's worried about Adele, too. She walked towards her door and stopped to knock a few times. She called for her but she's not responding to her.
Elise sighed. This again. How many times had she been through this? "Adele, I'm sorry but I need to send you home as soon as possible. I'll call Geoff to pick you up." she said out loud.
Suddenly, there was a sudden noise. Like something crashed inside the room. Elise stood still and didn't show concern or panic. A few seconds later, the door slowly opened.
A distressed woman peeked from behind the door. She had a look of pain in her pale face, her eyes swollen for crying so much and her short hair unkempt. "Mom... please don't send me home." Adele muttered. "It's my fault. I'll stop chasing after Leo... Just please let me stay..." she pleaded before bursting out crying again.
Elise's heart went out for her. She pulled her into a warm embrace. How can she still send her away when she's looking like this?