Chapter Text
3 years ago
Rosalyn had not expected this to happen. Of all things, marriage was the least thing she had ever thought of. It was never an option, nor something she had considered doing. Rosalyn believed she would have no reason to get married, especially since her father often reminded her that men were the exact species one could not trust.
Unless the world was on fire, never trust a man. But then, if the world were on fire, men are unreliable. The ones who will try to save and protect you are women. So by her father's logic, it was better to stick with a woman.
Rosalyn had taken her father's lectures to heart. Which was why she grew up believing never to trust her life and future to a man.
How ironic, that to get her parents to believe her conviction, she decided to do the very thing her father would faint after knowing: getting married to a man.
Rosalyn gripped the bouquet tightly and prepared for when the bells began ringing.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Here comes the bride!"
'Ugh...'
Rosalyn inwardly groaned, fighting back the urge to grimace. Deep inside, she was cringing so hard. Never in her life had she ever thought that she would walk the aisle as a bride. She couldn't help but think back to her father's lessons and realized she had internalized his lessons so much that now she was cringing at her own 'wedding'.
Rosalyn had no time to think because before she could even prepare herself, the double doors were pulled open as a cue for her to start walking.
'...Why do I have to walk such a long aisle?!'
Rosalyn was panicking deep inside, though her expression appeared calm.
Rosalyn had never rehearsed walking down an aisle, especially in such a heavy white dress with so many layers, and a veil that was obstructing her sight. If anything, the only rehearsal she had ever experienced in her life was her father's teaching her how to walk out of people's lives!
But of course, Rosalyn cannot possibly walk out of this marriage that she chose for herself. She decided to get married to convince her parents to let her live not as Breck's heiress, but as someone with an ambition to be the best lawyer in the world.
To Rosalyn, this marriage was her escape. This was her way of walking out of her parents' shadows. What her father taught her about how to walk out of people's lives, she was doing to walk out of his life.
So she can't possibly walk out of this marriage ceremony, no matter how much she was cringing deep inside.
Thankfully, there weren't many guests. Unfortunately, her lovely brother, John, was in the front row, looking at her with a complicated gaze. He probably didn't want to be here as much as Rosalyn did, but he decided to play along because Rosalyn had asked him to be a witness on her behalf.
Of course, both siblings never thought the day would come that they would be in this sort of situation. As a comfort to herself, Rosalyn believed that John was cringing deep inside, too.
...She can't be the only one suffering in this situation.
When Rosalyn moved her gaze towards the altar, she faltered.
'...A woman?'
Did she get the wrong message? Why is there a woman standing on the altar? A woman... who looks to be her mother's age!
Rosalyn raised the bouquet to her lips, in an attempt to hide her expression. She was so shocked, she forgot she was in the middle of walking in the aisle!
When she noticed the murmurs around her, Rosalyn moved her gaze and saw John looking at her worriedly, like he was barely holding back from running to her side to check on her. Seeing this, Rosalyn slowly calmed down.
This was a big day, indeed, and it was a big day for both of them. After this day, Rosalyn vowed never to set foot in Breck with her first identity ever again. She would no longer be a heiress... She would no longer be just Rosalyn Breck.
She cannot let this big day be ruined.
So Rosalyn continued walking, even though her heart was racing with confusion.
She was sure that she was supposed to marry a man whose name was the only thing she knew, yet the one who gazed at her solemnly, waiting at the altar, was a beautiful woman with vibrant red hair, someone who seemed to be in her 50s, ironically the same age as her mother.
Rosalyn couldn't take this situation seriously. Deep inside, she was panicking for a different reason now. If she is to be wedded to that woman at the altar, how is that no different from marrying her own mother?!
Rosalyn was mentally pulling her hair while yelling at the sky, begging her mother for forgiveness for being so unfilial. She was even tempted to cancel this wedding altogether, but Rosalyn had already reached the altar.
Rosalyn was completely stiff.
The red-haired woman offered her hand to her.
"Daughter-in-law."
"!!!"
'Daughter-in-law?!'
Rosalyn felt like hope was restored. She wasn't marrying her mother, after all!
Rosalyn raised her head and looked at her mother-in-law's eyes, who was looking at her with solemnity.
"I hope you will forgive my son for his shortcomings. The little ungrateful puppy ran away, and I have yet to track his location."
Rosalyn was fighting for her life, not to let her calm expression crack.
...Tracking someone's location? Is that normal?
Her mother-in-law continued.
"I will officiate this marriage as his proxy."
Rosalyn flinched.
'...Proxy?!'
Where in all of these worlds has anyone seen someone being the groom's proxy?! This is ridiculous!
But her mother-in-law's serious gaze made Rosalyn's heart tremble.
"I hope you don't mind."
'I mind, at all!!!'
Even though Rosalyn was protesting in her heart, she could only meekly take her mother-in-law's hand.
Jour squeezed her hand, seemingly trying to figure out something, and when it seemed like she understood one thing, a smile grazed her lips.
It was a vicious smile.
Rosalyn tried not to visibly tremble.
Jour guided her up, so now they faced the priest, still holding her hand. It doesn't seem like she would be letting Rosalyn's hand go anytime soon, and Rosalyn did not dare to pull away.
But even the priest was gazing at Jour blankly, like he could not understand this absurd situation.
"...Madam, proxies in marriages are unheard of."
Jour arched an eyebrow.
"So?"
Rosalyn's heart was palpitating from this turn of events. Her mother-in-law responded as if the priest's words caused her inconvenience. No, how can someone boldly treat a priest that way??
'...Father, I think you're mistaken about something.'
Rosalyn thought back to her beloved father, who raised her with pride as she watched the priest try to argue back, while her mother-in-law retorted without hesitation, as if there was a huge shield around her mother-in-law that refused to acknowledge anyone's bullshit.
"...It is not written in the laws of God, therefore, this wedding cannot be—!"
"So you have a death wish, then?"
'Father, it's women that we should be wary of!!!!'
Rosalyn cried in her heart while keeping a straight face.
After all that chaos, where the priest tried to argue back, and Jour retorted like she could not see the problem that was literally in front of her, the priest had no choice but to officiate the wedding just so he could finally get Jour off his back.
Rosalyn had a blank look on her face the whole time it was happening, because it was literally happening with her in the middle.
Traditionally, they should have gone to the reception hall after the ceremony ended, but since most of the guests had something else to do, they had to leave after congratulating them. Though they were mostly talking to Jour and only greeted Rosalyn politely.
After the guests were gone, Jour suggested that they should go out for lunch together with Rosalyn's brother, John, as if it were just a normal Tuesday.
Which is clearly not. But Jour was acting so casual!
Rosalyn's hands were shaking while holding onto John's arm. John, worried about his sister, moved his hand over hers and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"It's okay, Noona. I'm here."
'John...!'
Rosalyn gazed at her brother like he was all the good things in this world, the light to her dark world, her only saving grace.
The soft atmosphere was broken between the siblings at Jour's comment.
"You would make a good brother-in-law!"
"—Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Rosalyn, who had not expected Jour's bright words, choked on air, while Jour looked like she had not just said anything unexpected.
"...Thank you... for the... compliment?"
John replied, though he looked painfully confused. Was that a compliment? Was that not?
Even John was having a hard time dealing with Jour.
Seeing their reactions, Jour couldn't help but chuckle.
She reached for their hands and held Rosalyn's hand in her right hand, while holding John's hand on her left. Jour looked at this pair of siblings with clear eyes, like she was seeing them for who they truly are.
"My son had been an only child his entire life, so he has never experienced a sibling's love."
When her eyes crinkled softly, her expression gentle, Rosalyn began to understand where she was coming from.
Maybe her mother-in-law isn't as scary a person as she thought?
"Seeing your close bond, I hope that you can treat my son as you would treat your own sibling."
Jour's soft gaze moved to look at Rosalyn, a knowing smile on her lips, "But of course, he is your husband. So please do see him as one."
Rosalyn nearly choked.
"Ahem, yes... I understand."
Jour looked at her as if she knew exactly what was on her mind. Rosalyn was a bit fidgety because of her gaze. It felt as if her mother-in-law could see right through her.
As if she were looking at the deepest part of their soul.
"My dear, do not worry. That puppy of mine will not dare to treat you recklessly."
'????????'
What is that supposed to mean?
Jour appeared like she was close to laughing.
"Just view him as excess baggage, the one who will love you most will be me."
Jour tapped the tip of her nose, chuckling softly.
"From now on, you are my daughter!"
'...My future, my life, dad, you're totally wrong! The scary ones are not men, but women!!!'
From then on, Rosalyn had vowed in her heart never to let her guard down with women ever again. Because if they wanted to, they could be more terrifying than any man in the world.
Rosalyn only meekly nodded, even though deep inside, she was already pulling her hair.
Present
Contrary to her initial belief, Jour had been nothing but sweet to her. Rosalyn was heavily pampered, it was comparable to her cheeks becoming as soft and plump as mochis because of her mother-in-law's care. Of course, Rosalyn spent the past 3 years chasing her dream, which was to become a lawyer.
Rosalyn did not want to rely solely on her husband's influence, whose face she had not seen for the past few years. Rosalyn only got into this marriage so she could freely make a name for herself. Although Jour said that she was willing to provide all her needs for the rest of her life, Rosalyn gracefully declined.
The life she chose for herself was to become a career woman. Someone who would not solely rely on anyone. Even though technically, she was married and had been living with her mother-in-law.
...Of course, when her father found out that she had married just to run away from home, he cried for three weeks straight.
Her father, Edoardo, called her repeatedly, saying that going as far as getting married just to let her go to law school wasn't necessary. Had she just told them and insisted that she did not want to be Breck's heiress, he would have agreed to let her do whatever she wanted.
Getting married was beyond the question; in fact, it should never have been an option!
Rosalyn felt bad towards her father, who kept crying because she got married, but it wasn't like she could get divorced. She would need her husband's signature on the divorce papers, and as everyone knows, her husband has never shown up for the past three years.
The only person who could help her get a divorce would be her mother-in-law, but it grew increasingly clear that Jour does not want to let her go.
Being held in Jour's embrace, Rosalyn let out a soft sigh and decided to compromise.
'Since that husband of mine hasn't returned in three years, he'll probably never show his face in the future either, right?'
The life she lived was comparable to that of a widow, plus, she gets to continue living with her loving mother-in-law, while also appeasing her father that she does not live with any distrustful man, who might hurt her in the future.
So it was totally a win.
"My dear, choose whatever catches your eye, this mother of yours will buy it all for you!"
It had already been a month since Rosalyn graduated from law school, and recently, she got accepted into the same law firm her mother-in-law worked for, which was the best law firm in the country. At the good news that came knocking on their door, Jour took her out to celebrate.
"Say, my dear, how about going to the club next after shopping? Yes?" Jour held both of her hands, looking at her with sparkly eyes, "I'll pay for all of our drinks! What do you say?"
Club? Clubbing? Two married women, a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law, going to the club?
Rosalyn beamed.
"Mom! I want an apple cider cocktail, piña colada, and sangria!"
There's no way she would refuse free drinks. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! When else could she go clubbing?
'If I ever get a divorce, I'll go straight to the club and treat everyone to free drinks! I'll celebrate becoming a free woman!'
While Rosalyn was having those thoughts, on the other hand, Jour paused before she began laughing lightly.
'She's so much like Cale!'
Ordering sangria in the club? That was no different from taking her son with her. It truly felt as if Jour was with Cale, even though she was going there with Rosalyn.
The similarities between the two of them never failed to make Jour's heart swell. It felt as if she had a daughter of her own, which made her want to treat Rosalyn as if she were her own child.
"Alright, let's go on ahead if we want to enjoy the rest of our day."
Rosalyn paused.
"At this hour?"
Rosalyn looked out and saw that the sun was high up. She checked the time on her phone just to be sure, and indeed, it was in the middle of the day.
Who in their right mind would go out clubbing at this hour?
Jour grinned, showing that this wasn't going to stop her.
"Time is but a concept, dear, and no one is here to stop us anyway."
Rosalyn began to understand her mother-in-law's thought process.
Jour grabbed her hand and pulled her along as she began marching forward while pointing ahead.
"Let us go and enjoy ourselves!"
Rosalyn started to smile before laughing merrily.
"Okay!"
"Cale, have you seen your mother's recent post?"
Sounds of papers being flipped were what Bud heard, not even a hum of acknowledgment. He looked up and saw Cale with eyebrows deeply furrowed, going through his paperwork one by one.
Bud gave him a bored look.
"Cale, have you seen your mother's recent post?"
He repeated himself, just in case Cale didn't hear him the first time.
...When he received no response, Bud raised his voice.
"CALE, HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR MOTHER'S RECENT POST?"
"Argh- for crying out loud-!"
His papers, which he had been trying to organize, slipped out of his hands at Bud's shout, inevitably falling and scattering across his desk.
Cale turned to glare at Bud.
"Can't you see I'm working?!"
Bud raised both hands to show that he wasn't going to fight a wild dog.
"I was just asking. You don't seem concerned about the things your mother has been doing."
Cale picked up his papers one by one while responding with eyebrows deeply furrowed again, as if he couldn't see the problem that Bud was trying to point out.
"What about it? Let my mother live her life. It hasn't been that long since she became free of all responsibilities. What's wrong with my mother choosing to live her life now? She's not under any obligation to care for someone else, and besides—"
"So did you know that she went clubbing or what?"
"—My mother hasn't be- wHAT?!"
Cale's papers, which he had been trying to organize, slipped out of his hands again and fell to the ground this time. He whipped his head to Bud's direction so fast, Bud swore he heard something crack.
Bud grimaced, gazing at Cale with concern.
"...Are you okay, Cale?"
"That's not important right now!"
Cale stormed in Bud's direction and grabbed his collar, almost shaking him around.
"What do you mean, my mother went clubbing?!"
'...So he didn't really know????'
Bud was in disbelief.
"You... You never checked your mother's socials this entire time?!"
"That's not what's important, Bud Illis! Explain to me why my mother is in the club!!"
"Ah, damn it- stop screaming! And check your goddamn phone for fuck's sake! Your mother has been posting her life this whole time, and you never bothered to check on her?!"
"That...!"
Cale was at a loss for words. He knew he had been too busy solidifying his position in this company that he hadn't checked his phone that much, so he may or may not have little to no knowledge of what his mother had been doing since he lived abroad.
But is that little time that he didn't check on his mother enough for things to escalate so much?
(At that time, Cale should have known. With his mother being alone, there was no one in this world who would stop her from doing anything.
Including getting him married without his knowledge.)
For some reason, the moment Cale took out his phone from his pocket, he started to feel nervous.
About what, exactly? He couldn't figure it out. His hands were shaking while he was navigating through his phone and clicking the social media app that his mother frequently used, clicking on her profile, and...
It loaded, but the internet connection wasn't cooperating.
And once it loaded his mother's profile, her profile photo was that of a woman with red hair and her back turned towards the camera.
Which was strange, because Cale doesn't remember his mother having that shade of red as her hair, and her hair wasn't curly like roses, unlike the one in the picture.
So when Cale scrolled down, Cale was flabbergasted.
"...Date out with my... lovely daughter-in-law?!"
Cale turned towards Bud, as if he was accusing him of some crime.
"What the hell is this?!"
Bud shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know? Why are you asking me? Between the two of us, you're the one who understands your mother's mind the most!"
"Understand her mind...."
Right. He should have known.
He should have known that his mother's options aren't limited to sane ones, but even the most outrageous ones, and his mother isn't perfectly normal in thinking, because she always does things her way.
He should have known!
Cale scrolled down on his mother's feed, seeing nothing but posts and pictures of this girl whom she affectionately addresses as her 'daughter-in-law'. Eventually, he came across what appears to be an anniversary post.
"'Three years married to my ungrateful son who refuses to come home, yet she diligently stayed by my side and kept me happy. Let's treat this day as if it were her birthday instead... Happy birthday, my beloved Rose'? What the hell?!"
Since when was November 11th his wedding anniversary?! Cale doesn't remember being married! No one told him he was married!
His mother never told him he got married!
"No..." Cale faltered back, "What... what happened the past three years I was away?!"
Cale quickly went to his contacts and dialed his mother's phone. The whole time it only rang, Cale was anxiously tapping his foot on the floor while his other hand was over his hips. Bud watched Cale slowly losing his cool and inched away.
When a fight between a mother-and-son duo was about to break out, the very important thing someone close-by should do is move out of the way.
The call finally connected, and Cale quickly spoke.
"Mom!!"
There was a lot of noise on the other side, such as loud music and people laughing. Cale dreaded whatever was happening on the other side of his phone while he was standing in his office, countries away from his mother.
"What on earth have you been doing while I was gone?!"
["Argh- Cale! You only called me after all these years to nag?!"]
Cale winced before pulling his phone away. His mother's voice was so loud, he nearly went deaf.
Cale patted his trembling heart, then placed his phone back to his ear.
"Ma, I was so busy that I didn't have time, okay? I'm sorry, but please understand. I—"
["You ungrateful son of mine, even after I got you a beautiful wife, you never even bothered to come see her even once?!"]
"—Ma!" Cale screamed with eyes widened, "When did I even have a wife- no, when was I even married?! How could I have gotten married to someone I don't know?!"
But his mother seems to find his words offensive.
["Enough! You're bullying my daughter-in-law! If you don't dare show your face, then never show your face again! I'll live in contentment with Rose instead!"]
"Ma?!"
Toot, toot, toot.
His mother heartlessly dropped the call, something she had never done before.
Cale was in disbelief.
'My mother.... my mother wants to disown me?!'
Cale packed his things before quickly walking to the door.
"Cale, where are you going?!"
"Home!"
Cale could hear Bud's footsteps following him from behind, but Cale didn't bother turning to him and continued rushing out of the company building.
"I need to go home, otherwise, my mother might disown me!"
Cale was cursing in his heart.
'Just you wait... I'll straighten this whole ordeal once I'm back!!!'
Rosalyn: 1
Cale: 0
(,,>ヮ<,,)