175 Favoritism
Selma Payne’s POV:
I shook my head. This wasn’t Tracy’s or the werewolf grandmasters’ fault. On the contrary, they did this to ensure my safety. I wouldn’t be so insensible as to see my savior blame me.
“Of course,” my mother smiled. “We all know you’re a kind and good child.”
My father was concerned about the progress of my training because my body had changed, and my body’s ability to resist attacks had decreased. Fortunately, the physical fitness of the new body had improved by a large margin, so it was not too difficult for me to learn.
“You can just be honest,” I said bluntly. “Is it because of Aldrich and me?”
My parents looked at each other, feeling a little awkward.
There was always a barrier between parents and their children’s love life. If they asked too much, they were afraid their children would be disgusted, but if they asked too little, they would be worried.
My mother said, “We have no intention of interfering with your decision, sweetheart. It’s just that… Did you argue with Sir Aldrich? The atmosphere between you has been very strange and stiff these days. Your father and I have been very worried about you.”
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. Was it because of my unreasonable behavior that Aldrich was angry? Because my careless words hurt Aldrich’s heart? Or should I blame Aldrich for not putting aside his ego first to coax me?
I couldn’t say a single word. These reasons were too childish, or rather, the cause of this silent war was very childish. I didn’t want to be seen as a child.
My silence made my parents even more worried about me. My mother even carefully asked, “Did you guys… Break up?”
“No, we haven’t!” I immediately denied it. “It’s just a silent war. We’re not breaking up.”
𝘧𝘳𝑒ℯ𝔀𝘦𝒃𝘯𝒐𝐯e𝗹. co𝐦
“Oh, a silent war? Alright, it’d be strange if a couple didn’t quarrel.” My mother understood. “Perhaps you want to talk to us?”
“It’s okay. I can handle it.” I was a little embarrassed.
“Of course, we believe that you can handle it.” My mother hugged me gently. “However, it seems that our little princess doesn’t intend to handle this ‘life event’.”
“I don’t know what to do. Aldrich is angry with me. He should be angry with me because my childish words we hurtful.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I said, ‘Who are you? You don’t have the right to make decisions for me’. The truth was that Aldrich only conveyed your decision, but I took my anger out on him and even said such disgraceful words to him.”
“That was a little too much, child,” my mother said disapprovingly. “If you love Aldrich, you shouldn’t use your status to mock him.”
“Of course I love him!” I anxiously said, “It’s just that I was too anxious because I didn’t want to leave. I had just digested the incarnation of the demon fragment, and the complex negative emotions deeply affected me. By the time I reacted, everything was over. There was no way to save it.”
“It’s been such a long time. Haven’t you explained it to Aldrich?”
“No… I don’t know how to tell him. I’m too clumsy with my words.”
“It’s very simple. You need to apologize and tell him about your psychological state back then. Aldrich is an understanding child. He will forgive you.”
“Will he? I’m not sure, and even if he forgives me, I don’t think I can face him like before. Those words were too much. I will always unconsciously think about it when I’m with Aldrich, and I won’t know how to get along with him.”
“So the crux of the problem lies in the knot in your heart, right?” My mother gently combed my hair. “You know that Aldrich will forgive you, but you feel you have let him down because of this. Because the harm and punishment are not the same, you feel that you owe him.”
“… Yes.”
I dejectedly buried my head in the pillow, and the worries hidden under my indolence reappeared.
Of course, I knew that Aldrich would forgive me. During the training these few days, his seemingly cold eyes were so soft that I could only see a gentle stream in them.
Maybe he’d already forgiven me and waited for me to admit my mistakes. Then, he’d symbolically give me a little harmless chastizing, and we’ll make up.
He was so easy to talk to. I was happy because of this, but I was also suffering because of this.
I’d always met people who were too tolerant of me. In the past, my adoptive parents and brother Rhode were like this. Now, my parents, Dorothy, and Aldrich were the same.
I felt like I would be spoiled and become the kind of demon who caused trouble at will and didn’t take it seriously.
But I didn’t like this. I wanted to be loved, and I also wanted to be punished for my mistakes. I secretly rejoiced at the favoritism and privileges of my loved ones, relatives, and friends, and I also desired to be treated fairly and equally by others.
I was a pretentious girl, and when I realized this, it inevitably made me detest myself even more.
I deliberated and explained my contradictions and worries to my parents. I knew I wouldn’t see them disappointed, but I didn’t expect them to be so distressed by my pretentious thoughts.
