When a Well-Raised Son Grows Up - Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Carlisle comforted Abella as she cried in his arms, feeling confused. He held her in his arms and looked around the room, taking in the comfortable and familiar surroundings that resembled Abella’s home.

His gaze then fell upon Abella and… Esha? Leo?

Carlisle’s expression soured as he locked eyes with Abella and Esha.

“What are you both doing here?” he asked.

Esha responded, her tone somewhat tense, “We’re here because this is our house.” She handed Carlisle a glass of water with an unusually blunt expression.

“Take a sip of water first, silly wolf,” Abella said. She lightly hit Carlisle’s back and chest, her face wet with tears.

“You acted foolishly by entering the burning house. I was worried about you. However, despite your actions, you are not stupid.”

As Carlisle drank from the glass Esha gave him, he began to understand the situation.

He realized that he was in Esha’s house, that Abella’s house had burned down, that this wasn’t a dream, and that Abella was alive and well.

“Phew…” Carlisle sighed with relief, knowing that Abella was safe.

“Mom, are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Carlisle wiped away Abella’s tears and she nodded trying to hold back her tears.

“I don’t understand why I got hurt. I was outside the house” Abella replied.

“You’ve been outside the house all this time?” Carlisle was relieved to find out that Abella had not been inside the house the whole time she was gone.

When Carlisle saw the fire, his first instinct was to save Abella. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone and scared in the burning house, so he rushed in.

“Why did the fire start so suddenly?” 

Esha hesitated before answering,

“That jerk Enoch probably started it to get back at you,”

Carlisle’s expression turned angry at the mention of Enoch’s name.

“Abella was fortunate to be outside and unharmed during the fire. She ran into my house, and that’s when everything happened,” Esha explained.

“So, where is he now?” Carlisle asked gently, trying to comfort Abella, who was still crying. “

“He has been taken into custody by the police and is being sent back to the borderlands,” Esha replied.

Upon hearing the news, Carlisle scowled.

Leo cautiously asked, “Carl, are you upset that you couldn’t take him down yourself?”

Carlisle looked at Leo, wondering how he knew what Carlisle was feeling.

Leo responded, acknowledging Carlisle’s emotions but reminding him of the need to abide by human rules when living among them.

Carlisle shook his head in response, unable to accept what Enoch had done.

“I’m just relieved… to still be here,” Abella interjected, wiping away tears after a long crying.

“Do you realize… how frightened I was?” she asked, her voice was filled with concern.

Carlisle couldn’t help but smile at Abella’s worried expression. It was a concern he hadn’t expected to hear again. He laughed softly at her mixture of bitterness and affection.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice gentle.

“What exactly are you sorry for?” Abella asked, her tone filled with curiosity.

“For everything,” Carlisle replied, shaking his head. He felt Abella’s hand lightly pinch his cheek in exasperation.

“I apologize for everything,” Carlisle said sincerely.

“I’m sorry, not just for last night, but for my recent behavior. I acted immaturely and handled things badly,” Carlisle admitted earnestly.”

Abella understood the message behind his words. Carlisle played nervously with the blanket, avoiding direct eye contact.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated.

As Carlisle spoke, Leo and Esha quietly got up from their seats, leaving Carlisle and Abella alone in the bedroom.

Taking Abella’s hand gently, Carlisle spoke softly, admitting, “I may have had impure intentions from the beginning, but when I said I wanted to be a part of the family, I meant it sincerely.”

Abella, who had been hurt and distant until now, squeezed his hand tighter. This showed that she was listening intently.

“To be completely honest, I desired both,”

Carlisle confessed. He felt relieved as the words left his mouth. He felt relieved after speaking his mind, as it felt like the right thing to do.

Carlisle never experienced the maternal love of his biological mother. He did not feel trust or love with his companion.

Abella filled that gap, showering him with affection as if she were his real mother. He experienced a new kind of love that he couldn’t ignore or choose between.

He wanted to be loved and cared for like a son. However, even that was not enough to satisfy his desire for affection. Thus, he was drawn to Abella’s warmth and care.

As soon as he spoke, Abella understood Carlisle’s sentiments. Her eyes showed a mix of resentment and sympathy.

Carlisle knew that shedding tears would probably cause Abella to embrace him, a familiar comfort. However, he found himself resisting the urge.

“I wanted the warmth of a mother’s love,” he admitted, “but my desire was insatiable and I was consumed by it endlessly.”

Abella’s expression softened. Carlisle continued.

“I wanted more than just a mother’s affection. I longed to be your son, your companion, and your best friend. I desired every aspect of your being and every ounce of your love.”

Carlisle added, in a crawling voice, very quietly.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted that way,” said Abella, shaking her head sadly as her pink hair cascaded over her shoulders.

Carlisle gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. He prepared himself for a possible scolding, but Abella said nothing.

“I was scared that as I got older, I would lose your love,” Carlisle admitted.

“I was afraid that the care and affection you give me now would go to someone else.”

While speaking, Carlisle felt guilty for seeking affection from his mother and not noticing her fears. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head and laughed at himself.

“I was too obsessed with being with you that I didn’t see anything else.”

He spoke the words oddly, and tears welled up. He knew he shouldn’t cry. His tears were real, but he didn’t want to evoke Abella’s sympathy again, especially now.

He bit down forcefully on the inside of his cheek to hold back his tears. The taste of blood filled his mouth, but he was determined not to let it break him.

Then, a gentle hand touched his cheek. He lifted his head slightly and met her eyes, which were also wet with tears.

“You’re right, Carlisle, this is entirely your fault.”

“Yes, you’re right. It’s shameful.”

“I care about you so much. It’s not just care, it’s trust, belief, and love,” Abella expressed, her words tinged with emotion.

Carlisle smiled bitterly upon hearing the word “love” from Abella’s lips.

He felt that her feelings were all in the past. The trust they built seemed fragile and could break down at any moment, and her endless affection for her son felt finite, as if it would eventually run out.

A heavy silence filled the room, and Abella found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to continue.

“You…”

After a long pause, Abella spoke.

“I care about you deeply, and I can’t stand the thought of you doing something so hateful.”

Upon hearing her words, Carlisle’s eyes widened in disbelief. He struggled to understand what he was hearing.

“Really…?”

In disbelief, he said,

“You still mean the world to me, my dear, more than anything else.”