"What do you think, Chloe? Do you think I'm entirely at fault?" Dorothea asked. "Is there still a chance of forgiveness from Vernon to me?"
…
Chloe went silent for a while. She would usually tell a white lie instead of being straightforward because she didn't want to hurt someone's heart.
But what Dorothea did was way out of her tolerance, and she understood that Vernon would hate Dorothea forever. In fact, he was justified to do so.
Unfortunately for Dorothea, Chloe was way firmer and more certain regarding Mackie and Vernon.
"I don't think you're entirely at fault, Dorothea," Chloe said truthfully. She lowered her head as she was about to confess a sin in her heart. "When I was at my lowest, I couldn't help but have that seed of hate inside my heart for my daughter. Amidst my darkest time, I had that idea that I didn't want to take care of baby Mackie because she's the daughter of a monster."
"There are many times where I can't help but to look away or hide inside a bathroom just to control myself not to show any contempt to my daughter," Chloe said. "But as she grew up and showed more and more of her personality, I realized that she's different from her father, and vowed to never despise her despite her connection with Vincent."
"I think that's where you make a mistake, Dorothea," Chloe said. "You see Vernon as the smaller version of Vaughn and instantly hate him without clear reason. No child should bear the sin of their parents."
Dorothea nodded in agreement. Though she didn't like to admit it, she knew that Chloe was 100% correct in this.
She could've been better by not lashing out at an innocent little boy. She was an abuse victim, but at the same time, she was also the abuser.
"I understand your situation and wish that Vernon would be able to forgive you, but…." Chloe glanced at Dorothea's wrinkly hand. She decided to hold Dorothea's hand because she doubted Dorothea would be able to accept what she was about to say.
Chloe lifted her head and stared at Dorothea, who had been doing so for a while, and then opened her mouth;
"If Vernon decides that he will never forgive you, then it is justified for him to do so. I will still support his decision despite my sympathy for you," Chloe stated firmly. She felt Dorothea's hand start shaking as her eyes also widened. "I'm sorry, Dorothea."
Dorothea's tears couldn't stop. She knew that was the truth, but it was hard for her to swallow it.
Knowing how horrible she treated him, she knew that forgiveness from her second son was almost impossible to obtain.
"But I still want to apologize to him…." Dorothea's voice started shaking. "I don't need him to do something for me or act nice to me. I just want to apologize and hope for the best. I want to have peace in my heart, Chloe…."
Chloe couldn't help but sympathize as well. She was also a mother, just like Dorothea. She was also an abuse survivor. They had the same fate under men from the same family.
She started shedding tears just like Dorothea, "Oh, Dorothea…" she murmured. "I don't know if Vernon will ever forgive you. But I know that you really want to connect with him…."
Chloe gently rubbed Dorothea's wrinkly hand with her thumb to comfort her, "I will try to find a way, maybe start by telling him about your past with your late husband. Maybe telling him that things weren't all black and white."
"But I cannot guarantee that he will forgive you. The chance is pretty slim, sadly," Chloe said. "But I'm doing this because I don't want you to be tortured forever by your guilt."
Dorothea was stunned by Chloe's willingness. She didn't even ask for Chloe's help because she was afraid that Chloe would refuse to help her.
But Chloe understood her pain and was willing to help because they could connect with each other quickly.
'So much time wasted neglecting you. I should've treasured you from the moment you entered my family,' Dorothea said in her heart. She regretted every choice regarding Chloe and wished she could turn back time to make things right between them.
"I'm sorry, Chloe, and thank you for helping me…." Dorothea said weakly. "I don't know how to repay you…."
"You can repay me by not spilling about Vernon and I to Vincent," Chloe said quickly, not wanting to miss the chance to negotiate.
Dorothea chuckled, "I never plan to tell him as well. I've decided to separate myself from Vincent. He is still my son, but he reminds me so much of Vaughn and all of his craziness, I can't look at Vincent without getting reminded of my trauma."
"W—What changes your opinion about him, Dorothea?" Chloe asked. She was happy that her mother-in-law could finally see the fault in her supposedly perfect first son.
But at the same time, she felt that Dorothea's change was sudden, so Chloe couldn't help but get a little suspicious.
Dorothea's smile faltered in an instant. She looked into Chloe's eyes and replied, "Your video."
"My… video?"
"Yes, he recorded beating you in the Principal's office in so many angles with wall-mounted cameras. He likes watching each of them because he likes seeing you writhing in pain, but still struggling to fight back."
Chloe shuddered upon learning about Vincent's crazy behavior again. It wasn't surprising for Chloe because Vincent often recorded her getting beaten or crying while continuously tormenting her. Sometimes, Vernon threatened to send the video of her naked and full of bruises to her family— Judith and Chelsea.
Sometimes, he also threatened to show those videos to Mackie instead. All of those threats were very effective in making Chloe cower out of fear.
'I guess he never changes…' Chloe thought. 'Even after I left with Mackie, he still has his degeneracy and perverseness. He is a lost cause….'
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