Rauf dragged his mother out of the hall towards a part of the mansion that seemed quieter than normal. There were no guards watching the area, and it seemed like the best place to have a conversation.
Once he released her hand, his mother rubbed the spot furiously. "What do you think you’re doing, Rauf?" Her tone was stern.
Rauf was certain that if any other person had spoken to him that way, their tongue would be missing from their mouth right now.
But this was his mother. They had been together, fighting against all odds. He was ready to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"What do you think you’re doing, Mother?" he countered.
She chuckled, having nothing to rub anymore. "That’s what I just asked you, Rauf. You embarrassed me at that party. Do you know the kind of people there? And you had to drag the Salvador name through the mud."
Rauf could feel a vein in his head throbbing.
"Mother, it’s up to me to decide if the Salvador name has been dragged through the mud or not. And what were you doing standing beside Father’s murderer?"
The reminder made her flinch backwards.
"You know if it weren’t for Samir Trevor, my father would still be alive right now. And you know the reason I asked to marry his daughter."
The sudden shock that had gripped her seemed to evaporate with his explanation. "And you think whatever you’re doing is a punishment? You look smitten by that June and the bastard in her stomach."
Before she could continue, Rauf tightened his hold on his mother’s hand. "I don’t care what you say about me, but Mother, don’t. Don’t ever call my son a bastard."
Mrs Salvador Snr only sneered. "Do you really believe the child is yours? I have heard of the things she did after..."
She went quiet and whimpered as her son’s hold on her tightened.
"Trust me, Mother. I don’t care if you gave birth to me or not, but one more word against June and our child, and I will make those the last words you speak."
His mother stared at him like she was staring at a total stranger. The feeling was mutual in Rauf’s eyes.
He had brought her out for a different reason, but he would be damned if he allowed her to speak about his woman that way.
Seeing how protective he was of June, his mother made a move to turn back towards the hall, but Rauf stopped her.
"Don’t dare me, Mother. You know what I am capable of. Why would you support Samir?"
His mother let out a little choked sound. "I wasn’t lying. You were married to Amie. Have you forgotten how you insisted on marrying Samir’s favourite daughter as punishment, even though I never agreed to it?"
Rauf nodded.
His mother had been against the whole arrangement. She hated anything that had to do with Samir, and that was why this was even more surprising.
"So why now? Why do you suddenly support everything Samir said?"
She looked away from him. "It’s because it’s true. June was just a substitute. The one you’ve always loved and cared about was Amie. I don’t know what June did to you. But if this is still punishment, at least you deserve to be with someone you care for."
Her voice was laced with fear, as if she had thought hard to come up with this excuse for Rauf.
But Rauf couldn’t call her out, especially since she made it seem like she was doing all this for him.
He held her shoulder lightly now. "Mother, you don’t need to think about all that anymore. June is about to give birth to your grandchild, and the Trevors will surely be punished for what they did."
Suddenly, his mother’s eyes widened. "Is there something going on?"
Before, Rauf would have told his mother everything he planned. But looking at the woman in front of him and what she had done, he couldn’t bring himself to trust her.
"Nothing, Mother. Just promise you will stay as far away from Samir as possible."
Then suddenly, an idea came to his mind.
"Or do you want me to assign guards to you?"
Mrs Salvador Snr twisted her lips in disgust. "I’m fine without having my movements reported back to you every minute."
Rauf narrowed his eyes at her. "Do you have something you’re hiding?"
She avoided his gaze and was ready with a counterattack. "Do you want to get reports of me using the toilet? Then you’re good to go."
Rauf nodded. "Fine. But I don’t want a repetition of what just happened today." ℴℴ𝘮
His mother nodded and headed back towards the hall.
Rauf watched her return. But he knew the woman was hiding things.
Things he would find out.
As he made to return to the hall, he heard a voice. The person must have assumed the place was safe enough to speak, just as Rauf had.
"I don’t think we can carry out the operation tonight. A strange woman came out claiming the same girl was her daughter."
Rauf hid behind a column, not ready to reveal himself to the owner of the strange voice.
The man seemed to be talking to someone on the phone.
"She hadn’t gone close to the other girl, only her son. But there’s a rumour flying around the hall that she’s carrying his child."
Rauf frowned.
Rumours.
He hadn’t heard a single thing up until the point he left the hall with his mother. But he couldn’t deny the strange looks he had seen people throwing at June. He had assumed it was because of him and Amie.
"Of course, I’ll continue watching them. We will try to figure out the woman’s relationship with the first girl."
Then a beeping sound echoed.
The man was dressed in designer jeans with chains dropping from them. His white shirt looked spectacular. Yet, his back was turned to Rauf.
He blended perfectly with the crowd at the party, like a completely ordinary guest.
He looked around, but after a while, decided to head back towards the hall.
Rauf felt his blood boil at the thought of the rumours alone.
And he was certain they had something to do with Amie.