Chapter 86: Pretend to be reconciled and new conspiracy
Erica caught up with Ansel as he arrived at the parking lot. Seeing Ansel about to get into the car, Erica quickly ran closer and firmly grabbed Ansel’s hand, preventing him from stepping into the vehicle. Erica’s action surprised Ansel.
“Erica, what’s wrong?” Ansel asked, his voice a little dry and his face heavy from his still anger.
Erica took a deep breath, adjusting her breathing, before saying:
“Ansel,” Erica said in a low voice, her eyes full of concern. “I think before you get in the car, you should calm down. It’s all for your safety.”
Ansel realizes that Erica only wants the best for him. So Ansel tried to smile but couldn’t hide the tension in his eyes.
“I know I’m a bit tense,” Ansel admitted, “but I think driving will help me forget those negative thoughts.”
Erica placed her hands on Ansel’s shoulders, gently yet resolutely.
“Ansel, I understand how you feel. But driving in an unstable state of mind can be dangerous for both you and others on the road. Sometimes, we need to pause and confront what’s happening within our souls before moving forward.”
Ansel looked straight into Erica’s eyes, sensing her care and sincerity. He looked down and noticed his hand trembling slightly.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Ansel admits, his words akin to acceptance.
Erica smiled gently and patted Ansel’s shoulder. “I’m here, Ansel. Whenever you need me, I’ll be willing to help you.”
Ansel looked up and thanked Erica with a gentle smile. At that moment, Ansel knew that his choice was right. Erica was truly a good person that Ansel needed in his life.
“Erica, can I hug you?” Ansel asked, his voice filled with a plea.
Witnessing Ansel’s vulnerability and realizing how much he needed support, Erica nodded without hesitation. Slowly, Ansel approached Erica and embraced her. This time, Erica didn’t shy away; she courageously hugged him back.
“Everything will be okay, Ansel,” Erica gently comforted him.
“Yeah,” Ansel agreed.
The hug only ended when Ansel felt better. Then Erica offered to let her drive, and Ansel accepted. On the way back, to uplift Ansel’s mood, Erica proactively spoke a lot. Erica’s enthusiasm and sincerity successfully helped Ansel stabilize her emotions. Ansel even laughed at Erica’s humorous stories. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Ansel immediately called Nika, asking Nika to find evidence of Desi’s betrayal. Ansel had decided to expose Desi’s deceitful face to his mother. To accomplish that, Ansel needed to gather incriminating evidence against Desi.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Desi remained behind after Ansel left. She took advantage of Mrs. Hani’s unstable emotional state. Desi manipulated Mrs. Hani, implanting malicious thoughts in her mind to resist Ansel. In a moment of vulnerability, Mrs. Hani succumbed easily to Desi’s influence. Thus, a new plan was put into motion. Desi hadn’t given up on the idea of separating Ansel from Erica.
…
A week had passed since the heated argument between Mrs. Hani and Ansel erupted. True to his claims, Ansel did not return home and instead chose to stay at the family’s hotel. During this time, Mrs. Hani had to accept her husband’s opinion, refrain from causing further chaos, and check out of the hospital to return home. Since that day, the mother and son had not been in contact, and tension lingered between them. Ansel is still angry with Mrs. Hani, adamantly refusing to face her despite his father’s advice. On the other hand, Mrs. Hani was genuinely worried and saddened by her son’s distance. She decided to lower her ego and tried every possible way to reconcile with him, but all efforts failed due to Ansel’s stubbornness.
Unable to bear Ansel’s continued coldness towards her, Mrs. Hani made the decision to involve her husband and force Mr. Brown to find a way to reunite the family. Before Mrs. Hani’s birthday approached, Mr. Brown was planning a party at the hotel. A place with luxurious and comfortable space. The purpose was not only to celebrate Mrs. Hani’s birthday but also to provide a chance for Ansel and Mrs. Hani to meet and resolve misunderstandings, putting an end to the prolonged tension. Ms. Hani’s husband knows that Ansel cannot avoid this important event, and this is also her last chance to apologize to her son. Therefore, Mr. Brown is very confident that his plan will succeed.
Finally, Mrs. Hani’s birthday has come.
Ansel felt a great deal of difficulty attending this party. Not only did he have to face his mother, but he would also encounter Desi, whom Ansel hated so bitterly. But upon careful reflection, he realized that he would have to face Mrs. Hani at some point. That is unavoidable. What’s more, today is my mother’s birthday. As a son, how could Ansel not attend? As Ansel stepped into the dazzling space of the party, he sensed the anticipation and hope of Mrs. Hani. However, he still held tightly to his wounds and anger within. Mrs. Hani approached Ansel with emotional eyes, welcoming him and sincerely apologizing.
“Ansel,” Mrs. Hani said softly, her voice filled with sincerity. “My dear, I apologize for what happened last week. I understand that I was wrong, and I want to make amends. I truly hope you can forgive me.”
Ansel looked into Mrs. Hani’s eyes, eyes filled with guilt, and at that moment, he sensed her sincerity and true remorse. However, doubts still persisted, and to be sure, Ansel skillfully posed a question:
“I can forgive you if you respect my decision. Can you do that?”
When hearing this, although feeling dissatisfied and wanting to speak up in protest, Mrs. Hani chose to remain silent. She knew that for the next plan to unfold successfully, and considering they were in the middle of the party, it was better to avoid unnecessary conflict. Therefore, Mrs. Hani reluctantly responded:ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
“I can’t give an immediate answer. Please give me some time; I promise to consider it.”
“Is it true that you would consider it?” Ansel asked, his voice trembling with excitement, feeling hopeful upon hearing Mrs. Hani’s words. If it were true, then his path to being with Erica would be much smoother.
“Of course,” Mrs. Hani replied with a smile. “I will try my best.”
Ansel was overwhelmed with joy, and he no longer had any doubts. He embraced Mrs. Hani and said, “Thank you, Mom. I’m also very sorry for making you sad. We can forget what happened and start anew.”
“I agree, my dear,” Mrs. Hani replied, returning the hug with a bright smile.
Witnessing the scene of mother and daughter embracing each other and reconciling conflicts, the guests present applauded. It was all initiated by Mr. Brown. Mrs. Hani laughed heartily, thanking the guests. Meanwhile, Ansel appeared somewhat shy and uncomfortable, as he truly disliked being the center of attention. By chance, Mrs. Hani’s gaze turned towards Desi. After receiving a nod of approval from Mrs. Hani, Desi happily turned and left the room where the birthday party was taking place.
With Ansel’s forgiveness, the atmosphere at the party became more pleasant. Mrs. Hani and Ansel had dinner together and engaged in cheerful conversations, and ultimately, according to Mr. Brown’s assessment, they managed to mend their relationship. For Ansel, he felt relieved that Desi was not present at the party. In fact, since arriving, Ansel hadn’t seen Desi at all. He believed that Mrs. Hani had intentionally not invited Desi and Desi’s parents to think about Ansel’s feelings. But the truth is, little did Ansel know that a secret plan was quietly unfolding to trap him.