Rachel's POV
"Mother?" I called in surprise as I stared at the woman who once loved and cared for me as her daughter, that was until her real daughter appeared.
Her eyes were red and puffy like someone who had cried; they also had bags under them, and her face had more wrinkles than I remember. I was just six months of being away from her, and she now looked ten years older.
" Rachel". She called out when stopping feet away from me. Her lips were trembling while her hands clutched her purse tightly.
I couldn't control my body and I ran to hug her, wrapping her in a warm embrace. She had hurt me so much by agreeing to Lana's wishes, but I still loved her. She had been my mother for over twenty years after all.
" Oh, Mia". She cried finally releasing her hands from her purse and wrapping it around me. "I'm so sorry. "
I pulled away from her shaking my head. " What are you sorry for? It wasn't you who pulled the trigger".
She nodded while sniffling. " I know, but I pushed you away. You are also my daughter, despite us not being related by blood. I couldn't sleep when I found out about your accident. How are you doing now? " She asked slightly turning me around to examine me.
I laughed softly. " I'm fine now; I'm even about to get discharged from the hospital. "
' Why was I smiling with her? This is the same woman who told me to give up my acting career for her real daughters, and now she comes here acting all motherly, and I'm falling for that shit? ' My subconscious barked but I shooed it away.
Yes, she picked Lana over me, believing in all her lies, but that was because Lana was her real daughter. I comforted myself.
"Ahem," I heard a small cough behind me, and I turned around to see Marina and Ethan, who was standing just behind me now.
" Mother, you already know Marina..." I said, pointing at Marina,, who gave my mother a forced smile, which my mother returned.
Those two had never really been on good terms, even back when Lana, Marina,, and I were still very close. My mother had always preferred Lana.
" And this is my boyfriend, Ethan". I said hugging Ethan's hand.
My boyfriend.
I just loved those two words.
Maybe someday it might actually be real. Shit, stop thinking about stuff like that, Rachel! I reprimanded myself. I still had a lot of things to do, and it was possible Ethan didn't like me in that manner; he had someone he was in love with, for heaven's sake.
My mother blinked in shock. "Your... Your boyfriend?" She repeated and I nodded. Why was she so surprised? She didn't think I would wallow in the pain of my divorce for six fucking months, did she?
"Please ma'am, I just had to ask, why are you just visiting Rachel now? " Marina spoke up bringing everyone's attention to her.
My mother gulped.
Was she nervous?
My eyes darted between Marina and my mother suspiciously. What was Marina up to?
"What do you mean?" My mother asked.
Marina snorted crossing her hands on her chest. " Rachel had been in this hospital for over three weeks, and now, when she's about to get discharged, you show up? I think that's just suspicious if you ask me". Marina said eyeing my mother. I looked back at my mother to hear her reply.
I hadn't thought about that.
" I... I've been here before". My mother said after a few seconds. " But the bodyguards, they refused me entry." She said and nodded as if believing her own words.
My brows furrowed in confusion. The guards didn't let my mother in?
I looked towards Ethan, and he shrugged; he was just as confused as I was.
My mother and Marina stared at their selves neither of them backing down.
It was as if Marina knew something about my mother that I didn't.
"This can all be settled easily. The bodyguard never forgets faces. " Ethan said speaking up for the first time after being introduced to my mother.
He raised his hands to call the bodyguards and I noticed that my mother tensed up. Her eyes darted around nervously and she fidgeted.
She was lying.
I bit my lips nodding softly to myself.
"There's no need to call the guards. As long as my mum is here now". I said, stopping Ethan from calling the guards who were standing not too far from us.
" Rachel, em... There's something I need to tell you". My mother said after a few minutes of awkward silence. " Alone" she added.
I looked towards Ethan, and then at Marina who shook her head in disagreement, then back at my mother.
What could she want to say to me?
Could it be concerning Lana? Did she want me to let go of something again for her?
I let out a sigh and nodded.
I was going to go, but I had to give my mother the benefit of the doubt. But if she truly told me to do something for Lana, that was going to be it.
I was going to give her one last chance.
I slightly turned my neck to face Ethan. " You can go back, and drop Marina at her residence. I'll just go with my mum to hear what she wants to tell me".
Marina shook her head taking a step towards me. " Rachel...".
" Marina it's alright. Ethan would drop you off". I raised my hand to stop her from saying anything else.
Ethan nodded giving me a small smile. "Call me if you need anything," He said in a low whisper and leaned down to place a light kiss on my cheeks, which reddened immediately.
Marina walked up to me and gave me a huge " Me too, I don't trust her". She said loudly, and it would be impossible for my mother not to hear that.
But that was just the way Marina was. She never backed down from anything.
" I'm sorry about her". I said to my mother after Ethan and Marina had left. She gave me a small smile. "It's fine; I'm used to her already; come on." She said and we began walking out of the hospital to where her car was packed.
The driver brought the car around and we got it, both of us not saying anything to each other.
What was I supposed to say to her?
How have you been? Hope life has been treating you better now that you've found your real daughter? Nah...
It was better if I just shut up.
My mother kept playing with her fingers the entire ride. She was nervous about something, but I had no idea what it was.
"Where are we going?" I asked after the drive had lasted for almost fifteen minutes.
" To our favorite place". My mother replied without taking her eyes off the window to which she had glued her face.
Our favorite place? There was only one place like that, where me and my mother would just go and unwind.
We used to go there only three times a year just so it would remain special.
Why was she taking me there now?
I shook my head, burying my curiosity. This was not the time for my mind to wander. If I started thinking too much, I might not wait to hear what she wanted to say.
We arrived at the place ten minutes later. It was a small forest with different types of trees and plants. The original owners of the place wanted to turn it into an outdoor garden but decided against it and made it just a recreational forest instead since it had a lot of beautiful trees.
"So what do you want to talk about, Mother?" I asked her when we finally found a place to sit.
" Well, you see..." She paused taking a huge breath. " Just yesterday, em..."
"Mum, what is it?" I asked holding her hand lovingly in mine. "Whatever it is, just say it out".
" David came to see me". She said at last looking up at me.
My eyes widened. I spoke too fast.