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“Oh my God.”
Lillian begins to cry again. “She said I didn’t have what it takes to raise Alec to be a man worthy of Ace Corps and that I would regret not taking her help.”
My heart melts with pity for Lillian. “That’s why you were so hard on him.”
“I was so hard on him, Jasmine,” she sobs hard. “I see it now, but not then. I thought I was carving him into a strong man, but I was pushing him away.”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Ace.”
“Call me Lillian, please.” She pats her eyes. “Along the way, our mother-son relationship turned into a business transaction, and I missed all of Alec’s moments because he would rather tell the maids than come to me. I lost my son because of a few words said many years ago. Myra is somewhere in Greece right now. She’s retired and is spending her life as a widow. Yet, my relationship with Alec is now irreparable.”
“It’s not. I’m sure he can forgive you if you explain all this to him.”
“He won’t listen to me,” Lillian insists. “He says he’s done with us.”
“Why did he say that?”
“Because I told him it was me who made you go away. Jasmine—” Lillian comes over to my couch and takes my hand. “Alec loves you very much. I’m sorry about everything I said. I didn’t mean any of it. I want to make things right between you and Alec.”
“Lillian…”
“Please,” she begs. “Forgive me. You are a wonderful girl, and you’re the best choice for Alec. You love him. I know you do.”
I’m about to respond when the doorbell rings again. “That’s my brother,” I tell her, drifting from the couch towards the door.
To my shock, it’s Alec standing on the porch, looking the most disheveled I’ve ever seen him. On the curb, there’s a black Audi parked, with Damien leaning against it. He waves at me, but I’m too stunned to wave back.
“Jasmine.” Alec takes my hand. “I cannot live without you,” he says urgently. “Please. I’ve been miserable. I—” his eyes glaze as he stares at something behind me.
“What is she doing here?” He storms past me angrily, and I know he’s seen his mom.
Lillian rises shakily to her feet. “Alec.”
“Why are you crying?” He asks and turns to me. “Jasmine, why is she here?”
I stand beside Lillian, smiling up at her before turning to Alec. “Your mom is here to apologize to me.”
“What?” He frowns. “This woman doesn’t apologize to anyone.”
“Alec…” I roll my eyes at him, and when he tries to reach for me, I shake my head and gesture to his mom.
“Alec.” Lillian steps toward her son, who regards her with wary eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Alec purses his lips but doesn’t say anything. Lillian continues. “Not just for what happened with Jasmine, but for everything else I’ve done.”
“What?”
“I’ve never been a good mother to you, and there’s no excuse that is good enough for robbing you of that bond.” She reaches for his hand, and tears spring to my eyes.
“I’ve always been afraid of raising you wrongly, and that made me unnecessarily tough. I should have been more motherly, more forgiving, more caring. But it’s in the past now, and I promise that from now on, I will make it up to you.”
“Mom.”
“I will be the mother you need, and I’ll never meddle in your life again. Please forgive everything I’ve done and give me another chance.”
“Of course, I forgive you, Mom.” Alec hugs her as she cries in his arms. “You’re my mother. I’m sorry for everything I said to you this morning.”
“I deserved it.” Lillian pulls back and touches Alec’s face. “I love you, son. I always have.”
