33. Nick #2
"This morning, she accosted Willa, spouting off shit and planting doubts in Willa’s mind about my ability to be faithful.
So, this evening, I confronted Mother about it and told her to butt out.
Mother needs to stop meddling in our relationship.
Of course, Mother turned the tables and started disparaging Willa.
" I run my hand through my hair as I continue angrily, "She doesn't even know Willa. Who is she to judge her?"
"What did she say?"
“Mother accused Willa of faking it with me, only being with me to gain clout, prestige, and riches.”
“Oh, that’s rich coming from Mother,” Alex snorts.
I pitch my voice, imitating Mother's formal continental accent, and with a frown, I repeat the words that have been weighing heavily on my mind.
"Willa is an actress. Of course, she acts like she loves me, but she doesn't really.
She's part magpie. Glittery things like gold and riches appeal to her. She doesn’t love me ; she loves my bank account.
As soon as I drop her, she'll move onto the next rich man. "
Alex laughs at my spot-on imitation as I release another growl of frustration.
"God, I wish I could just move away and cut her out of my life."
"I have a plan. Just stick it out a little longer."
This is the second time that Alex has referenced this mysterious plan of his. "Care to fill me in on what you're planning?"
"Not at the moment," Alex cryptically replies.
I narrow my eyes and scowl. "Well, can you at least move up the timeline? I’m dying here."
Alex laughs again. "I'll do my best. I'm just waiting for a few more pieces of the puzzle."
With a sigh, I assess my brother. He appears confident, and since I have no plan myself, I choose to trust his judgment.
"Alright, I'll be patient." I pour another finger of bourbon, feeling contemplative as I reflect upon Mother's conversation with Willa. My brother and I sit in silence for a few minutes, each brooding over different things.
Could I be mistaken about Mother’s motivation behind speaking to Willa? Over the past fifteen years, my relationship with my mother has deteriorated to the point where we merely tolerate one another. Am I unfairly assuming the worst of her?
Seeking a second opinion, I voice my question to Alex, "You don't think it's possible Mother may have been honest with Willa, do you?"
"Honest about what? "
"Mother told Willa that she was trying to protect her, that she didn't want Willa to end up trapped in an unhappy royal marriage like she had been.
She even admitted that Father cheated on her throughout their marriage.
Is it possible that, when confronting Willa, Mother was actually trying to help her? "
With a scoff, Alex sneers, "Not a chance. Mother was Eve to our father's Adam.
With squinted eyes, I ask, "How so?"
"She sinned first. She partook of the forbidden fruit well before Father."
My jaw drops at his bombshell. "What? Are you saying that Mother cheated? And that she was the first to be unfaithful?"
"Oh, yes. Our darling mother cheated first and often. Father only began having affairs when he was convinced that there was no salvaging their marriage."
"When…how long have you known?" I gasp.
"Not long. Only a few weeks. I was going to tell you, but I was waiting for the right time."
I knew about Father's affairs. After all, I’d witnessed one with my own eyes and had seen other bits of evidence over the years that made me suspect it wasn't his only indiscretion.
But I had no idea that Mother was unfaithful. She played the role of martyr well. As this new knowledge sinks in, anger simmers in my veins.
I was only a child when I confided in my mother about my father's affair.
I was traumatized—distraught and confused—and Mother did nothing to console or counsel me.
The only thing she did was assign me blame.
I've carried that weight around with me ever since, falsely believing that I ruined their marriage.
Believing that if I'd kept my mouth shut, then our family would have stayed intact.
Mother would have continued to love Father—and me.
I wouldn't have taken out my misplaced anger on Father and ruined our relationship.
To find out that my mother not only knew about my father’s affairs, but that she wasn't faithful either…it feels like a gut punch. I wasted years blaming my father for something that was never his fault.
Nor was I ever to blame for any of it either. Mother lied and manipulated me to escape blame herself. I was her sacrificial lamb.
God, she’s duplicitous.
Learning this information convinces me that Mother was lying to Willa this morning. Her intentions weren’t to kindly warn Willa about the ramifications of marrying into the royal family; rather, she aimed to place doubts and persuade Willa to break up before our relationship could lead to marriage.
"I shouldn't have told you any of that yet," Alex backtracks quickly.
I splash more liquor into his glass and gesture for him to drink. "Too late. Tell me everything you know."
But before another word can fall from Alex's mouth, Johann barges into the solarium. “I apologize for the interruption, but it’s regarding Willa, Your Highness!”