Souls Remember What Matters — Corey Gibson 20
Chapter 20 – Once Broken
SERA
The moment we walked through Mary’s front door, I knew tonight was going to be a disaster.
Vivienne had already told me, right after she apologized that she would make my life hers, whispering the words the second Darius had turned away.
And now here she was, doing exactly as she’d promised.
Cathy was already there, sitting in the living room with a glass of wine in her hand. Darius’s sister had always been beautiful in that sharp, intimidating way – all angles and perfectly styled dark brown hair. Tonight she was wearing a red dress that cinched around her curvaceous frame. Overdressed for the occasion but that was just
her.
Her face lit up when she saw Vivienne walk in behind Darius.
“Vivienne!” Cathy jumped up from her chair, nearly spilling her wine, clearly tipsy. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here. You look amazing!”
They hugged like old friends, Cathy holding on longer than necessary while she shot me a look over Vivienne’s shoulder. Her eyes were cold and satisfied.
She’s never liked me and never bothered to hide it either and I was trying to understand why she hated me so much even after five years.
“Hi, Cathy,” Vivienne said softly. “Thank you for being so welcoming. I wasn’t sure if I should come,” Vivienne added with a soft sigh, glancing in my direction momentarily before looking away.
“Of course you should come! You’re family.” Cathy’s voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. “You’ve always been family to us.”
I felt my stomach twist. Luna ran over to hug her aunt while I stood in the entryway like an unwelcome stranger.
Mary appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. She was a small woman with gray hair and kind green eyes, but tonight she looked tired yet pleased by our presence.
She was nothing like what one would expect a billionaire’s widow to be. She was warm and preferred to handle all of her cooking herself.
“Sera, dear,” she said, coming over to give me a hug. Her embrace was warm and genuine, and I had to fight back tears at how much I’d missed her kindness or any sort for that matter. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay,” I lied, my voice coming out rough.
The next twenty minutes were torture. Cathy dominated the conversation, asking Vivienne about her health, her treatments, her plans. She spoke to her like they were best friends while barely looking at me.
“Remember when we used to have sleepovers in high school?” Cathy laughed, refilling her wine glass. “You and me and Darius would stay up all night watching movies.”
“I remember,” Vivienne said with a wistful smile. “Your mother would make us those amazing chocolate chip
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Chapter 20 Once Broken
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pancakes.”
“She still does,” Cathy said pointedly. “For family.”
I sat on the couch, my hands folded in my lap, feeling invisible. Nobody was talking to me. Nobody was even looking at me.
When Mary called us for dinner, Cathy immediately took charge of the seating.
“Vivienne, you sit next to Darius,” she said, patting the chair to his right. “And Luna can sit next to you.”
That left me at the far end of the table. Mary took the seat next to me, her face tight with disapproval.
The food was delicious, but everything tasted like cardboard in my mouth.
“This is incredible, Mrs. Blackwood,” Vivienne said, taking a delicate bite. “I can see where Darius gets his good taste.”
“Please, call me Mary,” she replied politely, but I could hear the strain in her voice.
“Vivienne’s been learning to cook,” Cathy announced. “She wants to be able to make home–cooked meals while she’s going through treatment. Isn’t that sweet?”
“I’ve been practicing on Darius and Luna,” Vivienne said with a shy smile. “They’ve been so patient.”
My fork clattered against my plate. “You’ve been cooking for my family?”
The table went quiet. Everyone turned to look at me.
“Just a few times,” Vivienne said softly, looking hurt. “When Darius was working late and Luna was hungry.”
“Of course it was okay,” Cathy jumped in before I could respond. “It’s not like you were there to do it yourself.”
The words hit me like a slap. “I was working.”
“Right. Working.” Cathy’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Playing around in New York while your family needed you here.”
“Catherine,” Mary’s voice was sharp with warning.
But Cathy was just getting started. The wine had loosened her tongue.
“No, Mom, someone needs to say it.” She turned to face me directly, her eyes hard and cruel. “Now that Vivienne’s back, maybe it’s time for some people to learn when to step aside.”
My chest felt tight. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Look around, Sera.” Cathy gestured toward Luna, who was chattering happily to Vivienne. “Even your own daughter prefers her company. Maybe that should tell you something.”
“Cathy, stop,” Darius said, but his voice was weak.
“Why should I stop? It’s the truth.” Cathy’s voice got louder. “Vivienne’s been more of a mother to Luna in the past month than you have. She’s been more of a wife to Darius too.”
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Tears burned behind my eyes. “This is my family.”
“Is it?” Cathy laughed coldly. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re the outsider here.”
She leaned forward, her words like poison. “You want to know what I really think? You’re nobody, Sera. You were nobody when Darius married you, and you’re nobody now.”
The room went completely silent. Luna looked confused and scared.
“You’re just some orphan girl who got lucky,” Cathy continued. “No family, no connections, no class. How Grandfather ever approved of this marriage is beyond me.”
Each word cut deeper than the last. Every insecurity I’d ever had was being dragged into the light.
“Vivienne is everything you’re not,” Cathy delivered the final blow. “She’s educated, sophisticated, from a good family. She and Darius belong together. They always have.”
My vision blurred with tears I refused to let fall.
“Even your own daughter loves her more than you,” Cathy said with surgical precision. “What does that tell you?
“Catherine Elizabeth Blackwood!” Mary’s voice cracked like a whip. “That is enough!”
She stood up so fast her chair fell backward, her face flushed with anger. “How dare you speak to Sera that way in my house!”
Cathy shrank back. “Mom, I was just-”
“You were just being cruel.” Mary’s hands were shaking with rage. “Sera is my daughter–in–law. She’s the mother of my granddaughter. She’s family, and you will treat her with respect.”
“But Vivienne-”
“Vivienne is a guest,” Mary said firmly. “Sera is family. She belongs here.”
Mary came around the table and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t listen to her, dear,” she said quietly. “You’re a wonderful mother and wife. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
But the damage was done. Cathy’s words echoed in my head, confirming every fear I’d had about not being good enough.
I looked around the table. Darius wouldn’t meet my eyes. Luna was still pressed close to Vivienne’s side. Cathy was glaring at me with hatred.
And Vivienne was watching me with something that looked like pity.
“I need some air,” I whispered, standing up on shaking legs.
I made it to the garden before the tears finally came. Great, gasping sobs that I’d been holding in for weeks. I collapsed onto a wooden bench.
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Everything Cathy had said was true. I was nobody. Just an orphan who’d gotten lucky. And now that Vivienne was back, everyone could see how much better she was than me.
I heard footsteps and looked up to see Mary approaching with two cups of tea. She sat beside me and handed me one, not saying anything while I tried to pull myself together.
“She’s wrong, you know,” Mary said finally. “About all of it.”
I wiped my eyes. “Is she?”
“Yes.” Mary’s voice was firm. “You’re not nobody, Sera. You’re one of the strongest, kindest people I know.”
“Then why doesn’t he act like it?” The question came out as a whisper.
Mary sighed. “Men can be fools, dear. They get confused by shiny things that aren’t always good for them.”
“Everyone loves her. Darius, Luna, Cathy-”
“Real love is what you give them every day,” Mary said. “Real love is showing up even when it’s hard.”
“I don’t know if I can keep showing up,” I admitted. “I don’t know if I can keep fighting for a family that doesn’t want me.”
Mary reached over and took my hand. “Don’t let Vivienne ruin your home, dear. This is your family. Don’t give up on them.”
She squeezed my hand gently. “I hope you’ll stay and fight. But whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”
I looked at this woman who’d shown me more motherly love than anyone ever had. The tears came again, and this time I couldn’t stop them.
I couldn’t hold on much longer. The weight of it all was crushing me.
Mary sighed, pulling me into her arms like I was her own daughter. “Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”
But as we sat in her garden, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might already be too late. Some things, once broken, couldn’t be fixed.
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