Chapter 226

Silence hung heavy in the private room after the waiter left. Audrey remained calmly seated, her stillness only amplifying Queenie’s growing unease.

Finally, Queenie blurted, “Mom, I was wrong. I was immature, but I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll be a good wife to Hayden, a good mother.” Her voice trembled with anxiety.

Audrey waited patiently, her gaze steady. “Queenie,” she said, “remember what you said three years ago?”

Queenie’s face paled. “Mom, I—I was young and foolish.”

Audrey hummed thoughtfully.

Queenie pressed on, wringing her hands. “I was wrong. I’ll be a good wife. Jeremy’s my child, too. If Hayden and I remarry, we’ll both cherish him. But if Hayden marries Becky… a stepmother’s never the same.” Her voice cracked. “Maybe Becky’s nice now because she wants Hayden. She might change after they marry, mistreat Jeremy. She has her own children, after all.”

Audrey opened her mouth, then closed it. Tears welled in Queenie’s eyes. She whispered, “I’ll be good to Jeremy. I really will change.”

“Change is good,” Audrey conceded, her gaze softening slightly. “But once a relationship ends, it’s over. Hayden never truly cared for you. Everyone knows that.” Queenie fidgeted.

“Mr. Hoggard was dying,” Audrey continued, “Hayden, being the filial son he is, married you quickly to avoid any regrets on his grandfather’s deathbed. Otherwise, with your schemes, you never would have married him.”

“Mom, I—” Queenie stammered, speechless.

Audrey chuckled. “If you hadn’t divorced, I’d have been furious. I’m a mother, too. You regret it now, don’t you? A mother’s greatest wish is her child’s happiness.” Her laughter held a sharp edge. “Remember when you stormed out three years ago? I was livid! Hayden’s the apple of our eye, the Hoggard heir. You were lucky to marry him, yet you threw it all away, making him a laughingstock.”

She paused, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “But looking back, the divorce was the best thing for him. He wouldn’t have met Becky otherwise. Do you know what it’s like to truly love someone?” A pointed silence followed. “Oh, my apologies, I shouldn’t have mentioned that. The man you risked everything for hardly seems decent.”

Queenie’s face fell. “Mom, Becky isn’t right for Hayden. A second marriage won’t bring him happiness. She won’t treat Jeremy well.”

Audrey’s eyes narrowed. “Queenie, if you didn’t mention Jeremy in every sentence, I might respect you. But he’s your tool, isn’t he? Do you truly cherish him, or is he just a pawn?”

Queenie’s face flushed. “No, Mom! You misunderstand! I want what’s best for Jeremy. I’ll be good to him!”

“You keep saying that,” Audrey sneered. “Since you’ve been back, what have you done for him? You used him to manipulate Hayden into taking you back. Is that your idea of love?”

Queenie stammered, flustered, but before she could respond, a knock echoed through the room. Their conversation abruptly ended.

“Come in,” Audrey said in Menterran.

A waiter entered with food. During the meal, Audrey ate silently. Queenie tried to speak several times, but the words caught in her throat.

Finally, after finishing her meal, Queenie burst out, “Mom, I’m not who you think I am! I made a mistake! Jeremy… he hasn’t lived with me since he was young. He doesn’t like me, but I’m his mother! If I lived with him, he’d come around. I’d take good care of him!”

Audrey offered a faint, mocking smile. “Ms. Leavey, if you’d focused on Jeremy in the hospital instead of Becky, I might believe you.”

Queenie fell silent.

“He just had surgery, needs care,” Audrey said, her tone laced with sarcasm. “You claim you’ll love and care for him, yet your attention is elsewhere. Your words and actions don’t match.” A weary smile touched her lips. “Queenie, you said you’d made a mistake. Prove it.”

Queenie’s voice was small. “I’m not like that, Mom. Earlier… I saw you, Dad, and Hayden were all caring for him. With so many people, I thought I could step away. If I’d been alone, I’d have stayed.”