The invitation to breakfast with his mother at home meant that she wanted something from Oberon. The messages she had been persistently leaving for him since past three weeks meant that she wanted something from him and Oberon was really not interested but after all, she was her mother and for only that he owed her a visit.
Oberon knew that she had some issue on her mind which was persistent and nagging at the same time and it required his attention. That meant that ignoring it was not going to make it go away. He had told his secretary to drop a message for her that once he was back from London he would give her a visit.
After Rhonda’s father, his new father in law, Rupert Grint had visited them and had come to know everything about their marriage it was the best choice to break the news to his mother as well. After all, she had also become mother in law for the first time. And as far as he was
“You brought the Upton Place at Point Piper!!” came the opening line, the golden amber eyes sparkling delight in the acquisition.“Yes! I heard that it was to be put in the market from my private sources and then I went all ahead for a private deal,” he answered as a matter-of-fact manner.“I have been to so many wonderful parties there, all these years. I mean, though I must say that neither the Uptons, nor the ones who came after them, whose names I can’t seem to remember at the moment. But this I know that they could not maintain that house just like it should have been or decorated at all. I mean, it was definitely nice, and all upscale but it was missing on a class,” said Virginia as she took a sip of the juice from her own glass.“And what is that you want regarding that Mother?” asked Oberon again, drily.
For Virginia the entire universe revolved around her and surrounded her and that was all that she could think of. Her arms lifted and her hands reached out in the air gloriously and gloatingly to gather in and express what marriage of Oberon to Rhonda meant actually to her.“It has such a delicious symmetry, my dear dear child!!! It is just perfect!! And think of all that lovely money is back in the family. What a glorious and fabulous coup, my son! Truly, today I can proudly say that you have followed every single thing that I have taught you till now to the dots, and I am such a happy woman,” said Virginia.Money!!Oberon’s jaw clenched at the sheer hatred that he felt towards the woman he called his mother and the tumultuous waves of hatred that were overwhelming him and threatening to make him nauseous. He also felt immense hatred at all these values that
“And just when did you decide that Oberon? Because when the packet came from Bolivia informing about Cedric’s death, I know that you were still playing the field and that was not even three months ago. And are you trying to tell me that within such a short amount of time you have suddenly changed into a man who is dedicated to his wife and his son and not to mention has become monogamous as well?” asked Virginia…The package from Bolivia. The last and the only contact made by his father to him.Oberon could not believe that it had already been three months to that and in all this time he had not thought about it for once. It was a weird irony that he had barely given a thought to the package and letter from since the time that Rhonda had told him about Ruriel. However it as the truth that what was his father’s fantasy of the ideal life and family for his sake was now shap
Far from acknowledging his expression and the exit line that he had just thrown a few moments earlier, Virginia’s face suddenly lit up with the excitement of having seized an insight that answered everything on her terms. In her world and in her terms everything could be answered by money.“The inheritance!! That is what this marriage is about, isn’t it? You denied that Cedric had left you anything at all, but why would he send me a fabulous emerald necklace, and not give you, his own son anything at all? You deserve so much more…and he knew that and you knew that as well. So marrying Rhonda Grint is simply your ticket to the Hunter fortune,” said Virginia which was more like a triumphant declaration.Oberon’s stomach contracted at the sickening equation that his mother had been a
Rhonda was playing with Ruriel, as his morning ritual and singing rhymes to him as he was smiling and kicking his arms and legs in happiness. This was nothing akin to lullaby so she knew that she wanted her son to have the proper reaction pattern to all her verbal cues and she was also working on the hand and eye co-ordination of her son. There would be a lot of teachers who would come along later on but Rhonda knew that nothing, after all nothing at all beat what a mother’s love meant to the baby.So when the housekeeper came and informed her that there was a guest who had been shown the parlour and was waiting for her there, she was a bit shocked. Not a lot of people were aware of this new address and she had certainly not invited someone. Rhonda checked her appearance in the mirror, and saw that she was in a skin-tight denim and a pale aqua shirt of silk. She had chosen this combination because Oberon loved seeing the
By the time, Virginia Credence finally took her leave, Rhonda felt that the bottom had dropped out of her brave new world with Oberon and she was free-falling into the most miserable darkness of her life. At least she had cobbled up enough pride together so that she had not let anything show outwardly or Oberon’s mother could not have realized how much pain she had delivered but that was little solace for the total shattering of her private little fantasy.The whole black irony was that she had always believed that Oberon’s world and this marriage would never involve them in the property trap. After all, she did not have any reason to not believe him as well. There was nothing to be gotten out of property and they both had more than enough to last three life times. He did not need any part of her wealth and she did not need any part of his wealth. Rhonda had never in the word thought that there could be any other p
Something was wrong.Oberon could not understand what it was and neither could he put his fingers on it exactly but he knew that Rhonda was not being her usual self and that made him uncomfortable. During the hour before dinner which was designated as playtime with Ruriel, he always made sure that the three of them will be spending the time together. It was the time when they would interact with their son as a unit before he was put to his crib with a bottle. But tonight her eyes did not light up readily with the smiles and laughter. No amusing anecdotes of their son’s daily activities were offered.She seemed quiet, withdrawn and pre-occupied. Only joining in fun of playing with Ruriel when Oberon drew him in. And then he sensed that it was taking her real effort to feel or show any sense of pleasure at what they were doing in reality. Her mind seemed else where, miles away and not clicking with
Oberon thought that his half-brothers and sisters might have been adopted out, or led to believe that other men were their fathers, as he had once believed Roderick Lachlan was his. In which case the news of his death and consecutive letters from Bolivia could well be causing as much upheaval in their lives as had eventuated for him.“Possessions can be important to people,” Rhonda commented wryly.“They are certainly to my mother,” Oberon answered with feeling, frowning on her aid fixation with the Hunter estate. He did not care if it went to his other half-siblings It might make a positive difference in their lives.. A wonderful windfall. To him it would be always tainted…a gift from death, not from life. He had no need of it and he certainly wanted no part in it.“Well Virginia certainly knows how it was or what it was like to be without