Digging Mother

We were on our way. Taking an early flight to Tokyo. Hunter had it all figured out since he knew where the woman was staying. A three-star hotel in a rural area. Likely, she was laying low after what she did. The puzzle was a tough one to fix but there was no backing down. 

We reached the hotel, it looked old and low maintenance. Hunter was able to get through the poor reception and didn't mind sharing the details of their guests. We headed up to the third floor and I was relieved the elevator worked perfectly fine. 

On getting to her room, I grabbed Hunter's arm. His jaw went slack.

"Any problem? You can't do this?" He asked.

"What do you mean? Are you expecting me to screw up the mission? I only wanted to remind you that she's a female. You can't just enter her bedroom." I thundered. 

The corner of his mouth turned up. "Trust me, that won't be a problem. As long as it's the both of us, she'll be fine, alright?" 

"No, let me go in first." I insisted, walking ahead of him. I reached the door and unlocked it using the spare key. On entering, I was met with the woman yelling with a flower vase in her hand. She broke it against the wall and pressed me to the door with her elbow right before I could react. She pointed a piece of the broken vase to my neck.

"What do you want from here?" She asked pinning me with much effort.

"I...I need to talk to you." I replied raising my hands in the air. I gulped several times, fearing for my life. At that point, the door forcefully opened and she lounged me to the floor. Hunter welcomed himself in, standing like a tower over her. "You've been very bad, Julie. Don't cause more trouble by being a crazy animal."

Hunter grabbed my hand and pulled me up. "Are you alright?" 

"I'm fine," I answered, upset with him for no reason. 

"Now, let's talk." 

Hunter and I sat on the couch while the Julie woman smoked a cigarette while sitting on the bed. 

"Are you sure you don't need anything, Hunter?" She asked, disregarding me completely. Something told me she had a purpose for being a cleaner at the mansion, otherwise, she would respect me too for being Denzel's fiance.

"I'm good, Julie. Seems like you saw us through the window and decided to run away." Hunter said directing our gaze to her stuffed and shut luggage by her wardrobe.

"No way, I was leaving because I needed to. You are not worth running from. In fact, I've missed you, Hunt..." She stated and Hunter cleared his throat like he was sitting on hot coal.

"Um...Julie, we are trying to figure out why you did what you did. We promise we won't put you in any form of trouble." I chipped in because I couldn't take their conversations any longer.

"Shut up. My room, my rules. You don't say anything unless you're asked to." Julie sneered.

That rude...witch.

I don't know why there's so much hate. She wouldn't have done that to Lena just because she hates her.

"Watch it, Julie. If it wasn't for her, I would have hurt you in ways you can't imagine. That rubbish act you pulled is ruining lives." Hunter interrupted. 

"No one sent me. I did it all on my own, happy now?" Julie snorted.

"Guess you choose the hard way." Those were Hunter's last words before he dragged her to the bathroom. I ran along, my heart beating fast. He filled the sink with water and put her head into it, not giving her a chance to breathe.

"Stop that, Hunter!" I called out, going close to him. "Please..." 

Hunter let her up and made her sit on the floor. 

She was panting and drenched from the water.

"Ready to talk now?" Hunter fumed.

"It's Mrs. Raven. She made me do it! And I don't know why. I have to leave. I have to disappear before things get worse." Julie cried out after she caught her breath. 

"What evidence can you show me that you are telling the truth?" He inquired.

"I...I have call records. Unfortunately, she paid me in cash. I don't have any receipt." 

"Show.me." 

She reached for her phone and unlocked the screen before tossing it over to him.

"That's all we came for. Good girl." Hunter said. He held my wrist and we left the hotel.

"This is insane," I whispered, shaking my head. "I never saw that coming. I thought she loved Lena and accepted her into the family because she's so perfect." 

Hunter smiled. "Someone has been paying attention. My aunt is crazy, no doubt... And I'm guessing Lena does not know she's the one who did that." 

"I can't wait to hear what Denzel has to say," I smirked. He thinks his mother is an angel. Let's see how he feels when he discovers she's the devil setting us up for failure. 

"For now, I can't let you leave Tokyo without exploring the city." Hunter chimed. 

"Maybe some other time..." I intoned recalling how concerned Denzel was when I was coming here.

"Oh, alright then. I'll contact the airport." 

We took a flight back home and Denzel came to pick me up from the airport, which means, I left Hunter to find a way back to his place on his own. I felt bad but I had to choose where my loyalty lies. I can't make wrong decisions anymore. 

"Why would my mom hurt Lena? They practically tolerate each other much more than many other people in the family." Denzel brainstormed with me after processing the truth that his mom wasn't so perfect.

"She wanted to take her down. That's for sure. A scandal like that could have ended her career." I reasoned. 

"Lena doesn't seem like someone who would push my mom to set her up." He pointed out. 

"Maybe your mom is extreme. Can't be pleased." I mumbled. 

"Let's say my mom just wanted some drama. Some sort of publicity stunt?" Denzel attempted.

"If that's the case, then how did she know about Lena's scars? She must have seen her without clothes to know." I stated.

Denzel was silent, rubbing his hands together with a lot on his mind. I started to wonder if there was something he knew that I didn't. 

"Are you alright?" I asked him with my hand on his shoulder.

"Um...yeah, I just have some work to do from the office." He replied and kissed me on the cheek.

He went up to his room while I kept researching my laptop. I almost forgot I was still a student who had a lot of tasks to do. I still was able to make time to meet Mrs. Raven for a special 'date' at her favorite restaurant. 

I went to meet her directly from classes since I didn't have time to clean up. 

I also had myself prepared for what may come since we were investigating her deal with Julie.

"I'm so sorry for being late, ma'am." I apologized when I finally located her table.

"It's alright, Sheldon. Just wanted to deliver my present myself. It's a little token since I know you must have been struggling with school, your business, and the family troubles." She said smiling.

"A present?" 

I unlocked the box to see dollar bills stacked neatly inside. 

My heart was beating. I was speechless.

"That's the only reason I called you. I have other things to attend to..." She said standing up.

"I can't accept this, ma'am." 

She stopped and glanced at me. "It's not much different from what you're getting from my son." 

There was a loud pang in my head at that point. Was he aware of my contract with his son?

She chuckled.

"Oh, I mean this is a harmless gift from the family to encourage your efforts. I can't wait to have you as my daughter-in-law. Now, where's your thank you?" She asked softly touching my chin.

"Th...Thank you." I susurrated feeling feeble and scared. She walked away.

I took the box. Trying not to judge myself.

That evening, I was doing the last thing I ever imagined I would do and that was digging up my late mom. I was able to get the contact of one of her former colleagues who stopped working for the Morgans just three years ago. She was working at the mansion before my mom got a job and after she left, she worked for more years before moving to another line of work. I wasn't sure how answering unsolved questions about my mom would help me at this point in my life but I couldn't help it. 

The woman, Olga promised to answer my questions to the best of her knowledge. So, after attending lectures and meeting with my supervisor, I decided to go to the lady's cafe and have a word with her. 

She was welcoming which made it easy to ask her why my mom quit working for the Morgan family. 

I was pulling up aged memories but she didn't seem to have a problem with it.

"She was hurt, severally." Her opening sentence made my heart slack.

"She was hurt?" 

"Your mom kept laying complaints that she was being physically abused and tormented by Mrs. Raven for her own personal entertainment. No matter how much she tried, her voice was silenced so she quit. It was a crazy thing for anyone to believe." 

"So, Mrs. Raven is truly crazy." 

She chuckled dryly.

"What do you mean by physical abuse? What kind?"

My hands were shaking as I waited for a response. And when it finally came, my mind boiled.

"That woman burned her severally. The scars still haunt me to this day. And she does this not just to anyone. Your mom was her only vulnerable target. I'm so sorry, Sheldon. I couldn't help her back then."

I instantly felt a ripping in my chest.

"Scars..." I whispered.

"Your mom made a brave move when she resigned. I still admire her whenever I think of her." She wore a smile.

But it faded as soon as it came. 

I lowered my head, feeling so many hurtful emotions at once. 

I made it home without breaking down and that was a miracle. I was traumatized.

I couldn't tell what exactly made me cry at the end. Whether it was seeing the weather forecast on the TV or grasping Denzel who was up waiting for me.

"The next time you come home this late, you'll be in serious trouble." He was saying as he hugged me tightly. His body is firmly bound to mine.

"Where have you been, Sheldon?" He asked above my head.

"Your mom burned my mom and you knew about it," I answered completely out of context. 

He hesitated which meant I was right after all.