Marianne pov contd

I have always felt that he was a strong boy, but this was the first time Killian was looking vulnerable. My stomach twisted, and my hands trembled with anger and hurt. I would have rather preferred him to throw things and take out his anger than sitting in a fetal position there.

I slowly walked towards him and sat beside him, but he did not even notice I was there. Slowly I caressed his back and ran a hand in his hair.

Finally, feeling my presence, he looked at me. There were no tears in his eyes, but I would have preferred if he would have been crying.

Though the words Isabella used were hurtful, I have never thought he would be this much affected. Did he care about her so much?

"Killian"

I gently held his shoulders and laid his head on my lap.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked as he was looking lost.

He took a deep breath and then started looking at the distance.

"What was the matter today?" he finally asked when I thought he would not.

"I.. she came suddenly and started speaking about all these things. I did not know what the matter was exactly. It had been only five minutes to her when you arrived there."

"Hmmm. Is my father getting married to aunt Isabella?" His voice was so blank and so was his face that I was having difficulty discerning his thoughts about this matter.

He was talking like an elder who just wanted to know what was happening in the family.

"I think so, that was what your aunt said. But Killian, I want to tell you that.." 'this is all an act, and your father and I love each other.' I wanted to tell him the truth, but before I could do so he cut my words.

"That you would continue to love me and be my mother. Even if your father marries someone else and so do you. Right? I have heard this so many times and now I am getting tired of it" he said like a worn-out old man.

"But I have always loved you, my son,'' I replied in a soft voice as I continued to run a hand in his hair and he finally looked at me.

"But you keep forgetting about my only wish to have a family. And father... Ha. Do you know why aunt Isabella called me b... Ba.. bastard?" he asked me and I shook my head.

"She was just babbling nonsense. You are the token of love between your father and mother. You are blueblood, Killian. Your parents love you a lot.'' My words were pleading, I was ready to do anything to make him believe that what she said was not true, though a part of me doubted it too.

Her confidence when she said those words shook me. I felt my stomach churning again at that thought.

"But aunt Isabella was right about my father's behaviour when my mother died. He used to care for me a lot. But he suddenly stopped caring about me when my mother died, as if I died that day too. I thought that he was hurt in the past. But maybe there is a chance that he did not want me anymore. That was the reason he forced me to come here with you." although he was saying the most hurtful words for a baby, his voice sounded calm.

"He did not force you to come here because he did not want you anymore Killian, he was worried that he would not be able to protect you with the schemes of your aunt Isabella. You believe her a lot, but you saw how she was talking about you and me, that is her real face.

We tried to tell you many times but you did not believe us. What choice do we have?" I asked him in a helpless tone.

"Not everyone who speaks sweetly is a well wisher, and not everyone who has been strict and rude to you is the one who hates you. Do you know your father denied having a child with me. So that you will be the only heir of dukedom and his only child" i told him and finally his eyes looked at me as if he was trying to know the truth behind my words.

"But that is cruel. I will talk to father about it, if we ever meet again"

"What do you mean by if we ever meet again, son. We will meet soon. In fact, i will send a letter to your father and he will come to meet you tonight.'' I replied confidently but he looked at me full of doubt.

"Good, I would tell him that I would like to have young brothers and sisters. If not more i would like to have 5 or 6 brothers and sisters, so that i can play with them like other kids" he said that so easily as if 5 or 6 kids would fall from the tree.

My hands unknowingly moved to my womb and held it tightly. I would have loved to have a child too. I shook my head at those useless thoughts.

"This is not important. What's important is that we both love you and now you know the true face of your aunt, right?" I asked him as I held his face and turned towards me.

"I do not know mother, there is always that thought in my mind that father did not love me anymore. But the way aunt Isabella said that, I am sure that is the reality and there is more to it. I want to know but at the same time I did not have courage to face the reality.

I am afraid i would not be able to handle, i will break if..'' I put my hands on his mouth to stop him from speaking further and shook my head.

"I will protect you son, I will do anything to protect you."

[sorry for the late]