The Duke's Masked Wife

Melanie opened her mouth to explain herself but she could not say anything. She chose to let go of her old life, including Alessandra, her mother, and her father. She truly believed Alessandra would be in good hands with her father.  "I have no excuse for staying away all this time. I won't deny that if your husband or the court had not searched for me, I would not have returned to Lockwood."

"I miss my mother. I keep thinking my mother will scream at me when I meet with her but she is too kind to be angry with. Have the two of you met each other? Your father didn't like when my parents came to visit. I had to send them away to avoid both sides arguing with each other," said Melanie.

"I met my grandmother a month ago. She thought we were communicating with each other, but my father was the one sending her letters, giving the money or toys she sent to my sister," Alessandra replied.

"Oh. It does sound like something your father would do. My mother must have wanted to kill him when she found out. Good thing he's dead," Melanie chuckled, but was met by silence. "I am really trying my best here. I don't want you to act as if you care for my words today, but the least you could do is react. Your silence is killing me."

"What do you want me to say?" Alessandra asked, genuinely wishing to hear what responses her mother expected. "I am reacting to your words. I have been responding instead of keeping quiet. Was I supposed to laugh at what grandmother would do when you have not visited her? Are you aware of grandfather's state? He is not doing well."

Melanie grabbed a handful of her dress under the table. She was aware of her father's state in the past, but as her letters to her mother decreased, she did not know what was happening to her father. "What... What is happening to him?"

"Write to grandmother, or better yet, visit them. As you said, she is kind enough to embrace you instead of yelling at you. You do not have another fifteen years to hold off reuniting with them," Alessandra advised her mother.

"I plan to take your siblings to meet my parents. If you want to, you can travel with us. It won't be so soon since I am here to get to know you, your new family, and learn what has happened in my absence. The girls are also excited to be in such a big town-"

"They can always come back after visiting your parents," Alessandra quickly interjected as it would be a big mistake to stay in Lockwood instead of seeing her grandfather. "I won't be upset if you go to visit grandfather. His time is limited but Lockwood will always be here. Everyone should understand why you suddenly need to leave Lockwood."

Alessandra continued to say,  "I met my grandfather once. Edgar and I did a quick trip two weeks ago, but we will go back when we can. I was planning my own trip for Edgar and me to spend at least a week there, but unfortunately, I cannot travel at the moment so I will not be going with you."

Melanie looked Alessandra up and down. "Are you sick? Hurt?" She asked.

"No," Alessandra replied and left it at that. She was not ready to share the good news with her mother.

"Okay," Melanie answered, her shoulders dropping from the disappointment of their conversation. "Tell me a bit about your life. I would like to catch up no matter how long it will take."

"Where do you want to start? From when father paraded me around like a doll to impress his peers? From when he remarried and I got a little sister? From when half of my face was bruised and once father saw, that was the end of his love for me? Wearing a mask every day, being forced to stay in my room daily and especially when there are guests, not being fed if I upset my stepmother and having to go to the kitchen?" Alessandra asked.

Before Melanie could respond she held up her hand and added, "Oh wait, the best one was when one of the few things I loved which was a kitten that kept me company was tossed from a window. No, a better story might be when your wedding dress was ruined. I'm sorry I did not keep it safe and sound for you. In the past, I kept a few of your clothes to give back to you when you returned. Some of them slowly spoiled in my closet but I think I did a good job keeping them safe."

"Alessandra, I deserve you trying to make me feel bad, but it would be better if we make this a more positive reunion," Melanie said, not able to listen to the things Alessandra mentioned.

"You asked me about my life and I told you. That was my life up until I got married. Do you want me to skip my childhood? Do you want me to skip the bad parts of my life so you don't feel like you messed up by not returning? The reality is my father did not treat me like a princess as you thought he would. He was stealing money that belonged to me and because of this, he refused to send me to my grandparents," Alessandra answered, giving her mother the harsh truth.

"You left and found your happiness while every day in that house was hell for me. There was a stupid rumor about my face being cursed and the servants fear me when I finally left my room. I really hated my face in the past. When father liked to show it off and when it was ruined. Each year that went by, I awaited your return. Even when I was older and knew that by then you wouldn't return, I still held onto a little hope that you would," Alessandra added.

"I am trying to guilt you," Alessandra admitted. "I don't want to tell you about the good parts of my life like my husband and all the people I have met. You aren't deserving of it yet and I really want to see you regret your decision to not return because even now when you sit before me and apologize or explain yourself, I don't feel like you regret or feel sorry.  If you want to try having a relationship with me, I won't stop you, but I won't warm up to you so easily."

"I understand that," Melanie slowly replied. "I will do whatever I need to do to make you view me as your mother. I only have one request that you do not be distant from your sisters because of me. They are looking forward to getting to know you. Don't punish them for what I have done."

"I would love to get to know my sisters. Are we done for now? For many days I had so much to ask you, but now that we are here, they all seem pointless. It's weird. I really wished my father had threatened you to stay away or he was the one to send you out of Lockwood. That way I could handle the feelings of my mother not wanting me in her life better. It really hurts to know both parents did not care for me," Alessandra said.