I am the Queen

Riiinngg~!

*sigh . . .

She couldn't even grieve in peace. The phone designated for the Coles, which meant that she had to answer, or the butler would come to her room and remind her again and again.

Snatching the phone, she said, "What?"

"Mother, is that the kind of tone you use to your son, who you didn't see for months?"

Alexa's mind cleared, and she shot into a sitting position.

"Álvaro?"

It was rare for her sons to call her. To them, she might as well be dead.. She couldn't blame them. She never did get a chance to take care of them. All because of the stupid rules of the Cole. Because they were afraid that her sons might get attached to her and she would control them into her bidding.

What nonsense.

But she also had her fault. She didn't make any effort to protest, nor did she fought for them.

"Mother, are you crying right now?"

Alexa roamed her eyes. She was so sure there was no camera in her room.

"No," she said and wiped her tears.

Alvaro chuckled. "Oh. I thought you are. Since father filed for divorce."

Alexa huffed a weak laughed. "I guess everyone already knows, huh."

"No. I just knew since you know . . . I'm already the head of the family and everything the Cole does . . . I know."

Alexa paused. Sometimes, no . . . most often than not . . . she's terrified of this son of hers.

"Are you really my son?" she blurted.

Álvaro laughed on the other line. "You tell me, mother. Am I really your son?"

Alexa sighed. "Let's not play mind games anymore. I'm tired, Alvaro."

"I bet you are. I can't blame you. After years of suffering in the Coles' hands, you're finally free. You must be very delighted, mother."

Alexa's chin quivered. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and it took a lot not to choke with her words. "If you called just to mock me, fine. I couldn't blame you since I didn't take care of you. You might be just calling to a stranger . . . But always remember . . . you came from my womb, and I carried you for nine months . . . and . . . it was the happiest days of my life."

". . ."

Alexa covered the phone when her tears fell, and her cries broke free from her mouth. The one thing that gave her strength to continue living was because of her sons. She wanted to see their life even if she was just a stranger at the side. But lately, she was having difficulty fighting her depression and anxiety.

"Mother, even if father divorce you, the Cole will still take care of you. But before you sign those papers, please look at the gifts I painstakingly searched for you. It's waiting just outside your door. I wouldn't have given them to you, but as they say, drastic situations call for drastic measures."

Alexa rubbed her forehead. "Alvaro . . . is this a prank?"

Alvaro laughed, amused. "Don't you think I'm too old to be playing a prank?"

Alexa didn't comment, but her brows rose so high.

"Anyway, I don't plan on giving it to you since I wanted to watch you and father suffer, but I already had my fill. Tis' fun while it lasted."

"Álvaro––"

Tut . . .

Alexa sighed. Her eldest son was really . . . a demon in disguise. She had no energy to even step out from her bed, much less walked to open her door.

Nevertheless, she got up and opened her door. What's waiting for her outside was just a big box. She looked left and right, but the hallway was empty like always.

Sighing through her mouth, she opened the box, and color returned to her lifeless eyes.

Barefooted, she raced towards the study and opened the door. In her sight, there was only one person. A man sitting on the couch with his nose stuck on a book.

"Alex . . . ," she whispered. He still didn't leave. He was still there.

It was like energy just kept flowing in her veins, and she was back to their younger years.

Alex remained stuck on his book, didn't bother to look at her while she approached and sat on the opposite side. Just like in their high school, she kept staring at him with palms on each side of her cheeks, a smile on her face which wrinkled her eyes. When was the last time she smiled that it strained her mouth? She forgot.

"What?" Alex finally said when five minutes passed, and Alexa still hadn't said a single word. She just looked at him with a smile on her face that he was beginning to feel scared for her. "You should really stop those medicines and seek professional help."

Instead of answering, Alexa just asked, "Why?"

Alex brought down her book and looked at her. "Why what?"

Alexa's eyes shone bright with tears. "Why have you kept all my letters? My sweet nothings. My gifts?"

Alex couldn't speak for a moment before he answered in confusion. "Is that important?"

Alexa laughed in defeat. That's right. He was always like this.

"Yes! It's important! It's important to me, at least. So tell me why . . . why have you kept them? After all these years. Why?" Alexa said, almost shouting.

Alex rubbed the back of his head. His ears were red, and his lips were tight.

"I just did," he said, even having difficulty in saying it.

"I thought that . . . I thought that you didn't care . . . I thought that . . . you throw all my gifts, all my letters or burned them."

Alex closed his eyes and said, masking his feelings with annoyance. "I've never been the one to tell affectionate words. You should know that."

Alexa's eye rounded. Her mind blanked out, and her body froze. "Does that mean . . . you . . . you have feelings for me?"

Alex sighed, but his face was getting red. "I wouldn't marry you if I didn't."

"Lies! You never told me. You never said that you love me."

"Do I have to say it for you to know? I thought that I already showed it clearly."

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