Chapter 92
Olivia didn’t say anything at first. She just held her daughter, her hand gently rubbing soothing circles on Rose’s back. There was no judgment in her eyes, no impatience only the quiet strength of a mother who had always known her daughter’s heart, even when Rose tried to keep it hidden. “There, there,” Olivia murmured softly, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears as she held Rose close. “You’ve always been a strong girl, Rose. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Let it all out, my dear.”
“I-I’m so sorry,” Rose managed to say between gasps. “I don’t even know why I acted the way I did. It’s like I’ve woken up from a nightmare, and now… now I’m left with nothing but regrets and… and. I’ve hurt Lucian, Mother, I’ve hurt him in ways I can never undo, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to make it right.”
Olivia watched Rose, her heart heavy as she saw her eldest daughter so broken and vulnerable, tears streaming down her face in silent agony. She could feel her own heart tremble with every sob that escaped Rose, knowing that each one was filled with regret and self-recrimination. It was a rare thing for Rose to cry, even as a child. And now, seeing her so openly devastated, Olivia could hardly bear it. She reached out, gently rubbing Rose’s back in a steady, comforting rhythm.
“Rose,” Olivia’s voice was soft but firm, trying to cut through the turmoil swirling within her daughter. “Sweetheart, crying doesn’t solve anything on its own. But talking does. So tell me what’s in your heart. I’m here, and I’m listening.”
Rose took a shaky breath, her words coming out broken, choked with emotion. “It’s… it’s about Lucy, mother.” She tried to hold her composure, but the memories flooded her thoughts, bringing with them a fresh wave of tears. “I… I did so many terrible things to him. Things I can’t even begin to justify. I was so selfish, mother. And now I’m afraid… I’m afraid he hates me.” Her voice cracked, and she looked down, as if ashamed to meet her mother’s gaze. “He wouldn’t even talk to me. He just… shut me out, and I know it’s my fault. All of it is my fault.”
The last words came out as barely a whisper, and Olivia’s heart twisted at the sight of Rose’s suffering. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Rose’s face. “Rose, try to calm yourself. I can see you’re carrying so much pain, but you need to let it out, darling. I’m here to listen.”
Rose wiped at her tears, still trembling. “Mother, you know my relationship with Lucy was never… never close.” Her voice wavered. “But it was more than just distance. I fought with him over everything, even things that didn’t matter. Company matters, the family name… things I can’t even believe mattered to me now. And I realize that he… he never even fought back, not once.”
Her voice grew softer, her gaze distant as she continued, “He never tried to compete with me, never. And I… I did it out of fear. Like somehow he would have things I could never deserve, simply because he was your real son and I wasn’t.” She choked on the words, the weight of her own jealousy finally settling over her like a storm. Continue reading stories on empire
A deep sigh left Olivia, her own guilt welling up. “Rose, I understand. More than you realize. And I won’t pretend you’re entirely in the wrong,” Olivia admitted, her voice carrying years of pain she had never spoken aloud. “If there’s anyone who could have prevented this rift, it’s me. I failed to help you both see how much you meant to each other… how much you both mean to me.”
Rose looked up, her eyes red and filled with fresh tears, struck by the sadness she saw in her mother’s gaze.
Olivia continued, “Rose, a mother knows her children’s hearts. And I know that this pain you feel… it came from somewhere deeper. When I told you that you weren’t my biological daughter, I thought I was giving you honesty, grounding you in trust. But I see now that it made you feel like you had to work twice as hard, like you had to prove something, and that… that was never my intention.” Her voice broke as she said the words, her own regrets seeping through every syllable.
“I thought I loved you enough that it would erase any need for you to doubt your place with me, with this family,” Olivia whispered, her own tears spilling as she held Rose close. “But, sweetheart, you saw Lucy as a threat instead of as a brother, and that was my fault too. You always worked harder than anyone, took on responsibilities no one asked you to… and you thought he’d take it all just because he was my blood.”
Rose closed her eyes, the words hitting her hard, as if her mother had shined a light on her deepest insecurities. “Mother, I just… I never wanted to hurt him, truly. I only wanted to feel like I belonged. And I did it all wrong.” Her tears spilled faster now, sobs escaping as she finally let go of everything she’d held onto all those years. “I let my jealousy blind me, and I lost the one person who ever… who ever truly looked up to me.”
Olivia tightened her arms around Rose, her voice breaking with emotion. “You don’t have to shoulder this pain alone, Rose. And I know that if you and Lucy had only seen each other’s hearts, none of this would have mattered. I should have shown you both that love doesn’t come with conditions.”
She held Rose tighter, feeling the tremors of her daughter’s regret and despair, knowing full well that a mother’s love should have bridged this gap years ago. And yet, even in this moment of anguish, there was hope. There was still time, still love, still family to be mended. And with that thought, Olivia held Rose closer, vowing to herself that she’d do anything to see her family whole again.
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