The Rebirth of a Scorned Heiress

“I heard Roseline came back earlier than scheduled; have you two planned a date yet?” Jessica Watson, Mark’s mother, asked as he fed her a bowl of chicken soup.

Mark let out a sigh, knowing that it was going to be another long night of discussion with his sick mother.

“We haven’t,” he replied calmly as he scooped another spoonful of broth.

She turned her face away from the spoon, brows furrowed in annoyance. “And why not?” She demanded.

“And don’t give me the crap about you being busy with no time to spare,” she hissed. “You could make some time for a girl that came back to the country just for you!”

“I trained you better than to treat a woman so poorly!” she reprimanded.

Knowing she would no longer accept the soup from him, he set it on the stool and gently helped her wipe the stains on her mouth.

“I really have been busy,” he replied. “And I have made it clear several times and again that I do not like Roseline,” he clarified, further making her annoyed.

She glared at him while wishing she could lift her hand to slap him across the face.

“And why are you dissatisfied with the thought of being with her?” She asked.

“She’s beautiful, successful in her career and she can help you with all the political whatnots going on in the company with your cousins” she pointed out, her voice rising the longer she talked. “What is there not to like about such a well-behaved girl? She’s every man’s dream girl.”

‘I’m sure half the population of men with working brains in their heads would refute your words,’ Mark thought to himself as he folded the napkin and placed it beside the soup before standing up to take a seat on the couch across the room.

“Am I not allowed to have preferences?” He retorted.

“Indeed, I might sound like an arsehole, and yes, you did train me better, but she really isn’t my preference. She makes me feel uncomfortable,” here explained, and she scoffed in annoyance.

“All those are just excuses for you to continue being single!” She snapped. “Just like your father and I grew on each other, you will grow to like her. She’s perfect for you, and I won’t hear otherwise.”

Mark remained silent, trying not to agitate her further than she already was. Taking his silence for acceptance, she huffed and continued, “I will set up a date with her on your behalf, and if I hear you did not show up, then forget you have a mother!” She threatened.

“Mom, you can’t possibly…”

“Can’t possibly what? Threaten you?” She cuts him off. “I’m already like this,” she gestured to a paralysed body with her eyes. “Do you want me to die without seeing my grandchildren?” She asked, almost tearing up.

“Surely if your sister were still alive, she wouldn’t have a problem giving me a child and listening to everything I say!” She spat while throwing a fit as best as she could with her body being paralysed.

Mark went stiff at her words, his face furrowed together, before relaxing almost immediately. Without saying a thing in reply to her words, he walked up to her, kissed her forehead, and walked out of the room.

Outside the room, he let out a frustrated sigh and leaned against the wall. His eyes flickered to the door at the end of the hallway with a cute little bunny image hanging off it. His eyes stayed on the door for several minutes, swirling whatever emotions were in the memories locked behind those doors.

Letting out another sigh, he schooled his expression and walked away.

“Leaving already?” His father asked as Mark stepped into the large living room.

Mark hummed and gave a nod in reply.

“So fast?” Michael asked with a frown.

Noting Mark’s withdrawn attitude, his brows furrowed deeper.

“You don’t look so good; did you argue with her?” he asked.

Mark posted, hesitating whether or not to tell his father what had happened.

“She threw the Annabel card again, didn’t she?” Michael asked knowingly, and Mark nodded.

One of the reasons he had moved out of his parents when he did and stopped visiting them often was because whenever his mother didn’t have things go her way, she’d always remind him of his late sister.

Annabelle and Mark had been very close as kids since Mark practically raised her due to their parents always being away on business trips and events.

After her death, he was the most affected, not only because he lost his sister but also because he lost his best friend.

It only got worse for him when his mother, who got paralysed in the same accident, realised that as long as she taunted him with his late sister’s name, he would always do whatever she wanted.

Unable to take the constant reminders and emotional abuse, he moved in with his grandfather.

“She’s insisting on getting me together with Roseline,” Mark breathed out.

“Well, Roseline is not a bad lady, and I do think she’s very suitable for you in some aspects and besides, she has been in love with you for so long.” Michael teased, earning him a glare from Mark.

“I’m not interested in her,” he retorted. “I am with Lily now there won’t be any need to get close to Roseline,”

Michael rolled his eyes and turned back to the TV, “I’m not forcing you to be with Roseline but you and I know she’ll be more suitable for you than that lady,” he argued. “I’m not doubting her feelings for you but are you sure the lady isn’t with you for the family name and money?”

“I’m not having this argument, Dad,” Mark replied as he picked up his jacket from the couch.

“Enough of your non-existent relationship life talk.” Michael said, as a change of topic, “How are the projects going? I heard you finally signed the contract for the security system with the federal government.”

Turning back to his father, “I did sign it, but we are still on a trial run. And that’s why I haven’t announced it to the rest of the board members.”

“Besides, Ethan and Frederick are pulling some nasty strings. I’m allowing them to play, but not for long. I intend to cut all their strings off this time.”

Seeing his father about to argue about taking it easy on the two as they are family, he decided to change the topic once again, not wanting to get convinced by his father.

“There’s going to be some launching events, and I will be busy with the tech campaign in Australia. I’m leaving Jed in charge in the meantime,” he explained.

Michael, knowing he couldn’t change his son’s mind, decided to let go of the topic with a shake of his head.

“If you need an extra hand, I’m a call away. And do eat more; you have lost more weight than I have lost golf to Ian since we started playing together,” he joked as Mark walked out of the house with his jacket in hand.

As he got into the car, he got a notification from Lily’s private number with the message, “Someone is trying to frame up Watson’s group. I took the job.”

Reading the text, his grip on the phone tightened and his face muffed into an ugly frown. Several suspects flashed through his mind, but one stood out more.

For almost five years, he has been constantly investigating a particular case relating to the accident that took his sister’s life and made his mother paralysed.

And until recently he hadn’t made any progress, and when he did, he got a warning to back off and stop investigating. Seeing how someone was trying to frame up the group to keep him busy, he could already tell that he was closer to unveiling the mystery behind the accident.

Something he owes to his late sister, who had died in his stead.

He looked out the window with a complicated expression, and after what seemed to be forever, he replied to her text.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“I’ll double their payment; get me all the information about that person. I mean all, including what pair of underwear they have.”