Beca was taken aback, for a moment, not understanding what Catrin intended to say.
"Beca," Catrin began, her tone soft yet firm, "I chose Fosters as Arwen’s second family because I believed in you. I knew you would protect her, stand by her side, and treat her like your own daughter. That’s why I am ready to overlook all that Ryan did to her."
But her words only made Beca frown. "You shouldn’t, Catrin," she said continuing. "You shouldn’t ignore all the things that Ryan did to Arwen. You are her mother. In this whole world, you should be the last person to ignore all that Arwen had suffered. This is cruel, how can you even say that?"
Catrin pursed her lips and shook her head, frustration flickering in her eyes. "Beca, you are also misunderstanding me," she replied, her voice growing heavier with emotions. "I am not dismissing Arwen’s pain. I might look like I am doing that, but all I am focusing on is her future. I just want her to have a life she deserves —a happy life, a happy home. And whether we like it or not, that life was supposed to be with Ryan."
Though that sounded somewhat convincing, Beca looked away as guilt painted her features. "How can you still think that after all he has done? Ryan doesn’t deserve her, Catrin. He doesn’t deserve her forgiveness, her love, or even her second chance. He has made the mistake he cannot undo, none of us can undo. As much as I want to have Arwen as my daughter-in-law, I don’t dare to ask her to go back to the man who betrayed and broke her heart —not when she has taken the courage to move on."
"Moved on?" Catrin scoffed. "That’s her mere tantrum, Beca. I am sure she has done that just to teach Ryan a lesson. She must not be serious about it."
"How can that be?" Beca took a step away frowning. "Arwen would marry someone randomly just to take mere revenge. Marriage is not a play for her. She must have —"
"It has become a play for her, Mom." Ryan’s voice interrupted, drawing the attention at once.
When Beca turned to look, she saw her son descending the stairs and walking towards her. Her brows knitted in a frown and she asked, "Didn’t you go to the company? Why have you returned so early?"
Ryan’s expression was dark, and Beca could tell he was fuming within. "Ryan, I asked you something. Do you want me to repeat it until you finally consider answering me?" Her tone was so cold that it could pierce one’s soul easily.
But it didn’t work on Ryan at all. His gaze instead turned dark, flashing with suppressed emotion. "Mom," he began, his voice low and strained, "I am just here to prove a point, Arwen has made the most ridiculous decision of her life."
Beca’s frown deepened. "What do you mean, Ryan?"
Beca turned to look at her and reached out to hold her hands. "Catrin, it’s not needed to keep all the promises. Now that Arwen has moved on, and married someone else, it would be better if you accept her relationship. Let her be happy in her life."
"Beca —"
Before Catrin could say anything, Ryan interrupted it with a chuckle. "Mom," he began. "You are dismissing my relationship with Arwen, have you even asked me about it."
"Do I need to ask you, son?" Beca raised a brow, her eyes pinning his son coldly. "Did I have to remind you that you never agreed to be in the relationship in the first place? That you never gave her the respect, or the care that she deserved. You didn’t even accept her as your fiancée openly. And now that she is married and has someone else in her life, do you think you have any right over her? If you think so, then you are overestimating yourself, son."
"She has someone else in her life?" Ryan ridiculed. "Mom, do you even know whom she has married to?"
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