Russell’s house was on the northern side of the city, where his father and everyone else from the family except Elora lived.

Elora was living in a small farm house bought on the southern side of the city. This was done so she would be staying as far away from the main house as possible. Russell didn’t like that. However, he could understand why his father had to do it. Elora was no longer Arnold’s wife. There was no need for him to take care of her, but for her sake and for Russell’s sake, he was taking care of her medical bills and other expenses. Then again, if Elora had filed for alimony, she would have made Arnold’s life difficult.

Now, Arnold had spent only 10,000 dollars on the farm house in the past, and it was still his house. Its price kept increasing with every year. Today, it would sell for more than 70,000 dollars, so Arnold didn’t really lose anything, and he was also getting his mother treated by a friend, so the expenses were kept to minimum.

Russell’s mother was suffering from severe myositis, heart issues, and many more health complications. She couldn’t even talk on mobile for long. It had been many years since she last put on earphones and listened to music. She would spend most of her time in bed, unable to even watch television for long.

Russell was meeting her again after six days. He took a bouquet of jasmines, as they were his mother’s favorite. She didn’t take the flowers until he gave her a hug.

Elora was only in her early fifties, but she looked ten to fifteen years older. Even though her body was in a terrible state, she always tried to put on a smile in front of him. She gently touched his cheek and said, “You’re looking dull. Is there anything burdening your heart?”

“No, Mom. I’m fine,” Russell forced out a smile.

“I know when my son is lying, so tell me,” she asked.

Russell pursed his lips, still smiling. “Dad has arranged a marriage for me.”

“Oh…” she kept staring into his eyes. “You don’t look happy. Do you have someone else in mind?”

Russell didn’t nod or shake his head. He didn’t want to drag his mother into this.

“I haven’t told you about your father until now because my father was even more terrible,” she took a breath and glanced toward the kitchen room because her father, Regan, was hiding in there. Russell wasn’t aware of the fact that he had a grandfather, and he was currently standing only a few feet away from him and was also listening to their conversation, wearing a complex expression on his face.

“I kept everything to myself,” Elora said, “but you’re not a child anymore. I think it’s time to tell you what kind of a man Arnold is so you will decide your future for yourself and not for your father or anyone else.” She paused for a few seconds because her jaw muscles hurt. Then, she continued talking slowly, “I’ve lived with your father for only a few years, but I know him better than you do. I know how evil and sadistic he can be. Your father will love you as long as you listen to his words. The moment you stop listening to him or start questioning him, that’s when he’ll show his true colors. He does not like it when you differ from his opinion. No matter what he does, you have to obey him. So, if you are thinking of going against his words, then you should come out of his house. It’s better if you just leave the city.”

Russell had to agree, though he didn’t want to admit it. His father always held Russell in his grip. Even though Russell ate at the same table as his father, he felt like he was eating under Arnold’s foot.

Arnold would beat Russell every time he did something that Arnold didn’t like. The only reason Russell didn’t leave his father’s side was because of his mother. He could live on his own, but what about his mother? And her medical expenses? He wouldn’t easily be able to buy a place like this, where she could live in peace. Moving her to another city in her condition wasn’t easy, either.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Russell put his hand on her hand. “On my way here, I’ve decided on what to do. On whether I’m going to marry the woman Dad chose for me or not…”

If he were to go against his father’s words, Arnold would not only target him but also target his mother. Russell didn’t want that no matter what.

“What’s your decision, Russell?” she asked, genuinely curious to know his answer.

“I…” Russell went on to give his answer, shocking both Elora and Regan to the core.

“That’s your decision?” Elora deeply frowned. “Are you doing this for me?”

Russell shook his head. “I’m doing this for myself.”

Elora pursed her lips. “If that’s what you really want, I won’t say anything.”

After talking with her mother for a bit longer, Russell walked out of the house and told the old maid to take good care of Elora as he was going to get busy in the coming days.

After Russell left, Regan finally entered his daughter’s room and sat where Russell had previously sat. His eyes were red from crying, though there were no tears at the moment.

“Why? Why do you let Russell suffer even more?” Regan looked angrily at her. “If you want to punish someone, punish me. Not him!”

“I don’t want to punish anyone, Dad,” Elora didn’t even look at her father. “It’s Russell’s choice who he wants to marry. Even if he wants to marry a blind woman, I won’t object to it.”

Regan’s mouth turned down. He remembered the past when Elora had fallen in love with a blind man, but when she expressed her wish to marry him with her father, Regan had that blind man killed in a road accident and tried to make it look like a normal accident, but Elora somehow found out the truth and ran away from Regan’s home and came to a different country. Regan didn’t even look for Elora because he had two sons. However, years later, both those sons and their wives and children, all of them died in a plane crash and left Regan devastated.

“I know I did things I can never make right,” Regan tried not to shed any more tears, but it wasn’t easy. “But… How can you keep me away from my grandson? From my successor? Tell me what I should do to get my grandson back? I’ll do anything.”

“Then do nothing,” Elora said in a heavy voice. “Let him live his life.”

Elora’s words squeezed her father’s heart.