<b>Chapter </b><b>53 </b>
“Come in,” Nivera gave her permission when she heard a knock on the door.
The door opened, and the head helper came in. “Ma’am, your mother is here to see you,” she informed her, which made her mouth drop open
“Are you sure it’s my mom?” She couldn’t help but ask, as there was no reason for her mother toe son her.
“Ws, Miss Elton. Should I send <b>her </b>back<b>?</b>”
<b>“</b><b>No</b>, I see her,” Nivera responded as she got out of bed.
The helper didn’t waste any time in leading her down to the living room, where she saw a familiar figure standing in the middle of it
It was really her mother,
<b>As </b>she
got closer, her mother turned, and she was <b>met </b>with a face she hadn’t seen in months.
The older woman was dressed elegantly, like always, with her hair tied into a bun, which made <b>her </b>feel like shit, as she was in an oversized shirt and shorts.
“Mom,” she broke the silence when <b>she </b>saw her mother’s scrutiniting eyes looking at what she was wearing
“<b>Nivera</b>,” her mother responded. “is this what you’ve been wearing all day?” She sighed, and Nivera could feel the disappointment <b>in </b>her tone.
“I’m home, mom, not in public,” she responded insitably. “Why are you here?”
It was her fault for expecting a hug or soft words from her mother. Between her and her father, it was hard deciding who was more overbearing
“Well, I’m here because your name is all over the inte,” Aria <b>spoke</b>.
“Oh,” Nivera hummed.
“Such a huge thing happened, and you didn’t think to tell me
“What?” Nivera retorted. “in <b>case </b>you’ve forgotten, Dad threw me out and told me not to talk to any of you until my two years are up,” she reminded her
mother
“And you stood there not bothering to stop him, nor did you try to contact me, so I don’t know, Mom. You tell me how I was supposed to tell you?”
“Here I thought you’d have learnt some man
some manners, but you’re as uncouth as <b>always,</b>” her mother expressed her displeasure.
“Surely, your husband and daughter must have told you I got worse, especially as I saw them not long ago?
“They did, but as <b>usual</b>, I gave you the benefit of doubt,” Aria <b>shook </b>her head.
“That’s on you, not me.”
“<b>You </b>know, Nivera, you make it <b>really </b><b>hard </b>to stand up for you,” Aris <b>sighed</b>.
me a disgrace at dinner, and you stayed quiet? Or when he said I’d never be anything
“<b>Stand </b>Tup for me?” Nivera scoffed. “Was that when Dad called me a without the family name, and you agreed?”
“Please, remind me when you’ve ever stood up for me?”
Whenever her father would scold her, her mother would either ignore <b>it </b>or add fuel to the fire, so where was all thising from?
And why was everyone in her family pretending like they didn’t remember their rtionship dynamic<b>? </b>
“Because you didn’t see it, didn’t mean it didn’t happen?” Her mother smiled bitterly, and Nivera’s eyes scrunched in confusion.
“How are you, Nivera?” The sincerity in her mother’s voice made her do a double take, and it unnerved her, as she wanted to know why her mother wan
truly there.
Before she <b>could </b>say anything, she heard footsteps approaching, and when she tumed, she saw Alejandro approaching them.
Words couldn’t describe how relieved she was to see him. If there was one thing Alejandro was good at, it was getting her family off her back.
Unlike when she hadst seen him, he was dressed in a white shirt <b>and </b>a pair of ck joggers; one that made him look homey, and with the messy bang on his <b>face</b>, she couldn’t stop her stomach from twisting into <b>knots</b>.
“I thought I heard a voice down here,” Alejandro said with a smile on his face, the one he showed the world.
“Alejandro, this <b>is </b>my mother, Mom, this is Alejandro,” she introduced the two to each other.
“You’re the boyfriend,” Aria stated as she stretched her hands to Alejandro<b>, </b>who took it. “A pleasure to meet <b>you</b><b>!</b>”
“Hmm,” he nodded in affirmation. Either Nivera’s mom <b>was </b>a wonderful actress, or unlike her husband, she wasn’t bothered about the fact that he was dating her daughter,
Interesting. He hade down in case Nivera’s mother was giving her trouble. <b>It </b>appeared he was wrong
<b>Turning </b>to look at Nivera, he, however, realized that she was shifting ufortably
“My apologies for showing up uninvited; I just wanted to see Nivera after everything that has happened,” Aria exined.
“It is a happy moment for Nivera to finally get her name cleared after everything. It must have been a terrible period for you when your daughter was being humiliated and dragged,” he said, throwing a subtle dig at her.
On the surface, his words looked innocent, but <b>Niver </b>could tell what Alejandro really meant, as he knew her history, which meant he knew her mother wasn’t there <b>for </b>her.
“Oh yes,” Aria responded, her face flustered,
<b>“</b><b>Well</b>, leave you two to have your mother and daughter moment.” From the corner of his eyes, he saw Nivera stiffen, confirming his suspicion.
She didn’t want to be left alone with her mother. It was <b>a </b>shame he was going to have to be rude to the woman who didn’t seem to have <b>a </b>problem with him, but <b>Nivera </b>came first.
“We’ll have more of thatter, I just wanted to pop him before my meeting,” Aria, however, said, saving him the trouble of throwing her out.
“Oh, shame,” Alejandro hummed. “Doe again!” Just like that, he dismissed the older woman, who looked at her daughter and <b>gave </b>a smile before turning <b>and </b>walking away.
As soon as they heard the front door close, Nivers was the one who broke the silence. “I don’t want her toe again,”
He had made it clear to her father that he wasn’t wee, and hopefully her father got the hint. Telling her mother she was wee again would mean having to see her again, and she preferred if she didn’t.
“I know,” was Alejandro’s response as he plopped down onto one of the sofas.
“If you knew, why did you tell her she was wee?” Nivera hissed as she plopped down beside Alejandro.
“We can’t be rude to a nice guest. Come on, where are your manners?” He flicked her forehead gently, making Nivers have the urge to stab him,