Chapter 8

• "Auntie!!" Sean squealed when he saw Alan's mom while Alan proceeded to rub his hands on his head because he wasn't expecting his Mom to come anytime soon.
• "Awwwn Sean, you always look handsome each time I see you," She said excitedly dropping what she was carrying on the table and proceeded to rub his cheeks while Alan scoffed at his mother's attempt to be sweet.
• "How come you are here, how did you get in?" Alan asked his Mom.
• "Is that how you are supposed to greet your mother?" She fumed as she smacked his head.
• "Ouch Mom that hurts, you have the same grip as that woman" He groaned.
• "What woman?" His Mom asked, squinting her eyes at him.
• "No woman, what brings you here?" Alan asked, diverting the question as he strolled to the table picking up the marriage certificate and putting it inside the cupboard at the other end of the living room.
• "It seems you have been slacking from work. I called your office and your secretary said you didn't come to work since you would never call or visit your mother, I decided to check up on you and I brought you food, you look stressed out and lean. You need to take care of yourself and get married to a good woman to take care of you" She complained while Alan rolled his eyes at her efforts to emotionally blackmail him.
• "I had pending issues that needed my attention that's why I didn't drop by at the office" Alan interjected.
• "That's not the only thing I said, Sean speak to your friend, he is already established and ripe for marriage, it's been years since that lady left you, move on already" His Mom snapped at him while Sean sat quietly listening to the mother and son banter, this is one of the reasons Alan hates his mom visiting him because she always pushes him to get married and to top it all she always opens his past wounds.
• "I told you that I never want to hear about her," Alan replied coldly.
• "You are going to get a daughter-in-law soon but first let's eat, the food is getting cold," He said in a finite note calming his nerves from flaring up.
• "If you don't want to hear about her then move on" His Mom murmured as she picked up the basket of food and headed to set them on the dining table.
• "Did you say something?" Alan asked in a rough voice as Sean pulled his hands.
• "She is your mom and she is looking out for you, don't be mean to her" Sean cautioned making Alan feel a little bit guilty as he stared at his mom's pitiful face.
• He strolled close to his mom engulfing her in a bear hug " You are the best Mom in the whole world and I have good news for you after we are done eating so cheer up and am sorry for losing my cool" Alan said apologizing sincerely.
• "Really?" His mom asked excitedly.
• "Mmm," Alan answered while he sat down, scooping a spoonful of Matzo ball soup on his plate.
• "Sean, are you not going to eat?" Alan's Mom called out to Sean in concern.
• "I won't miss your food for anything Auntie" Sean exclaimed strolling happily to the dining table.
• "Foodie" Alan hailed him with a mouthful of food while Sean and his Mom giggled.
• Alan's Mom didn't grow up in a rich home but she was very lucky to have gotten married to Alan's father who was born with a silver spoon and that's why she is a great cook and has a good heart as well.
• After the late lunch.
• "You said you had good news for me, I am dying to hear it" Alan's Mom reminded him as they had settled on the sofa after eating.
• "Yes, I said that but hold on," Alan said and headed back to the cupboard to bring out the marriage certificate leaving the contract form behind because that's something he can't tell his mom about.
• "Here," He said, handing the certificate to his mom.
• His mother gave him a questioning look as she collected it "Read it" He urged.
• "A marriage certificate!!! You got married?" His mom exclaimed excitedly.
• "Yes I did," Alan said nodding his head
• "Why didn't you tell me earlier? you left me to reprimand you for no reason" His mom asked feigning annoyance.
• "You didn't even let me speak, that's what you do every time you visit" Alan mumbled while Sean chuckled.
• "You knew about this, why didn't you tell me?" His mom asked, facing Sean.
• 'I just found out today. How cruel can he be, he got married without telling the two important people in his life. He betrayed us" Sean hurriedly defended himself leaving Alan staring at him in shock.
• "How cruel, Where is my daughter-in-law?" She asked, facing Alan again who was still recovering from Sean's betrayal.
• "She will move in tomorrow and you will get to see your daughter-in-law," Alan said.
• "I should start preparing for an elaborate wedding, I should also go to the mall to get her gifts" His mum gushed excitedly.
• "Yes, you can get her gifts but there is no elaborate wedding" Alan voiced out, almost regretting why he had told his mom about his marriage.
• "Why is that?" She asked, squeezing her face.
• "The wedding will be held but with only close friends and family. I don't want your battalion of friends invading my wedding ceremony and that's what my wife wants as well" Alan said the corner of his eye crinkling at the thought of an elaborate wedding for a marriage that is not real.
• "I don't believe you, you forced her into accepting that kind of wedding because every woman wants a very special type of wedding" She complained accusing Alan.
• "Well, every woman wants a special kind of wedding but mine wants something that only involves close friends and family, that's her definition of special so let's respect that," Alan said convincing his mom.
• "Okay, I will get her gifts then," His Mom said feeling downhearted.
• "Yes Mom, cheer up, she is a sweet and kind-hearted woman like you, you would love her," Alan said to cheer his mom up.
• "I will head to the Mall then, Sean see you some other time," She said, pecking their cheeks and headed out.
• "Phew" The both of them breathed a sigh of relief the moment the chauffeur drove out of the premises.
• "Snitch" Alan voiced out eyeing Sean while Sean chortled holding his stomach.
• "One minute you were forming anger and then the next minute you were scared of her," Sean mocked.
• "Sorry bro, I don't want to miss out on your Mom's food, so I need to be on her good side," He said.
• After a little banter between Sean and Alan, Sean left his place while Alan strolled up the stairs to his room slowly taking in the silence and emptiness of his mansion. He had few workers but they never slept over and they didn't come every day.
• He stepped into the shower immediately he got into the room allowing the water to cascade down his evenly toned and built body washing away the stress of the day, after he got out he wore his nightwear that had his initials embedded on them while he sat on the rocking chair across his room, picking up the lighter on the side stool behind him, he was not a smoker but he love the sound of the lighter call him crazy but the sounds were soothing to his ears.
• " You are very sick to think that I would ever love you, You were able to afford my lifestyle and that's why I stuck to you" He remembered the voice that taunted him for so long.
• "Women!!" He bellowed, clutching the lighter tightly.