Page 39 of TAINTED by TWINS

Earlier that night, Jade was smoking outside the venue when he sees a familiar car and a familiar woman driving it.

His mother, looking regal in a Dolce and Gabbana dark purple sequin gown reminiscence of what she wore on Lian's birthday.

What a nice tribute to the new head of the family.

.. but why is she here? Her and Miss Lei Ann is supposed to wait for the flights.

"Mom..." Jade approached her when she came through the door, fur warmer and heels barely greeting him. "Why are you here, our dad—"

"Is the exact reason I'm here," she barely looked at him with empty eyes, bloodshot red behind those sunglasses. She passed by him, and Jade is puzzled on why she has reverted to her old self. The cold, cruel Lady Deveroux her sons hated.

And she didn't care. She doesn't care about anything anymore.

"Mom, Lian is signing the contract. You can't be here, you have to go back and watch over Miss Lei Ann—"

"I have no one to go back to," she stopped and turned towards him, voice cracking as the strong image of a woman breaks under severe heartbreak.

But she remained firm, telling her son, "I have been a coward all these years, Jade.

I have suffered, so has my sons, so has Lian.

.. so has my love, because I was too much of a coward to stand up against that man.

And now that I have lost the sole reason of my breath.

.. I have realized what I would've done a long time ago. "

"What are you talking about, mother?!" Jade can't help but yell because the sight of his mother crying in front of him is breaking his heart.

And his heart did break when she whispers, "She's dead."

"What?" It can't be. Jade has to take a moment to process those two words, and those were all he needed to realize Velomina is out for revenge. She slipped out of his gaze and was greeted by a concierge in the entrance.

"Lady Velomina."

She smiled at the young employee, amused at the fact that she should've used her insanity to kill her husband. I should've done this a long time ago.

Maybe then... from the moment Lei Ann spilled that cake on her wedding dress, to when she discovered the blood red rose, to when they laid on the grass together, to the moment Velomina wraps a diamond necklace around her hand which is connected to a custom vintage gold plated revolver with a leather handle carved with intricate floral details.

Maybe then, we'll stay inside a perfect dream.

"... to my one and only son, the one true Deveroux heir!"

Maison du Rouge belongs to Lian, now. You are no longer needed, Khalid. Velomina pulled the revolver out of her fur arm warmer, deaf to her son trying to stop her. No one's stopping me. He has to die.

"MOM, NO!" Bang!

But it wasn't Khalid that fell. Velomina's eyes widened when her precious godson fell with blood in his back instead of her ex husband. Just as she was deaf to Jade's call, she became deaf to everyone around her as she fell to the floor and yelled for Lian. No... no, not him... not him!

Everything was silent, in slow motion, as Jonah dove to carry Lian in his arms. Khalid yells at security to detain Velomina, and Jade is frozen, staring at his twin. Jonah looks back, and the complete horror and heartbreak on Jade's eyes was all Jonah needs to learn about what truly happened.

Lei Ann is gone.

"I'm sorry," Jade whispers, holding Lian's numbed hand. "That's why... that's why my mother tried to kill Khalid. It was for your mother."

Lian stared into empty space for longer than what it took for his tear to roll down his face. He couldn't find words, he couldn't find his voice. Is he allowed to cry? Can he hug Jade and yell against his chest like what he really wants to do?

But he can't do anything, just like how he can't do anything against his mother losing herself to alcohol and depression. All he knows is Jade is beside him, offering a shoulder he refuses to cry on.

"Lian?" Jade sees the tears, but hears nothing from him.

So he spoke. "I just thought... that if she's gone... then what am I doing all this for? Why am I still here... what's the purpose of being Lian Deveroux when the person who brought me here... is gone? She was barely a good mother... but she is still mine. She is... she is mine."

Lian's face finally broke, and he cried heavier than the rain against Jade's chest. Not only is his tears raging, but he yelled in unmuffled agony in the hospital room. His hands weakly hit Jade, inflicting no pain, but is trying to get the pain off his chest.

Jade could only close his eyes for the entirety of twelve whole minutes Lian broke down in his arms. Crying out, hyperventilating, hitting him where his weak fist could land. Numb by body and heart, until he fell silent on the thirteenth minute.

"You just had to leave me to break the news to him, huh?" Jade deadpans to his twin, exhausted and heartbroken over everything that has happened.

"Would you rather spend hours debating with father on why Lian should decide whether to charge our mother or not? I had to delay her from being thrown into jail, unless Lian wants that to happen."

"She meant to shoot Khalid," Jade says, "Not Lian."

"Exactly. He would've had her put into death row.

But I convinced him it is Lian's decision what to do with her," Jonah sighs, "I checked the autopsy report, Miss Miller had a lethal dose of alcohol in her bloodstream before she did that to herself.

She threw off the entire plan, now mother has gone insane and Lian got shot—and worse, father's signature is not yet on the contract. "

Jonah slams him against the wall, "You're a psychopath, you just can't give Lian a break!"

"Once Khalid is gone, we all get a break!" Jonah pushes him away, but Jade threw a punch that landed.

Jonah retaliated by grabbing his head and kneeling his chest. "We can't do anything about someone's death, but we can take care of those who are still alive! Focus on Miss Miller all you want, but someone has to suck it up and clean the mess and it has always been my job!"

"You created this mess in the first place, you told Khalid about Lian!" Jade slams him against the wall, landing his head on a picture frame on purpose. Jonah threw and punch to knock Jade down, but the latter didn't let go of him so they both fell to the floor.

"Everything would've been fine if you had control our unstable mother in the first place, Jade!

Two more minutes and it would've been signed, it would all be over!

" They brawled until Jonah grabs a coffee table book and slams it against Jade's head.

"Both you and mother have always been the impulsive ones, never stopping to think about the consequences of your actions!

That's why I pull the strings and you stay in my shadow! "

"ENOUGH!" a fully awake Lian yells at the twins are seeing them try to kill each other in his hospital room. His fierce tone and hard face is a punch to both of their guts, especially coming from someone who just lost his mother.

He is still crying, but he looks very mad at the two of them.

"I would've killed the two of you myself for turning my life around the way you did.

I didn't ask to be the owner of a billion dollar company.

I didn't ask for any of this, I didn't even ask for you to fight for me.

If I didn't love the both of you, I would've hated you for what you've done to me, you two tainted me into becoming who I don't even recognize.

I hate this, I've never hated myself this much! "

"You're weird for that by the way."

Jonah bitterly helps him up, "Shut up, Jade. Your club has strippers." Both twins are still refusing to apologize to each other.

Lian took a massively deep breath, lifting his head and ignoring the dried tears on his cheek. "Jonah. Can a case be dropped after charging Lady Velomina?"

"I can request for a later court date." Jonah lifts his head, rolling his eyes at his twin. "Why do you ask?"

"It's what father would want," Lian says, quite firm in his decision. "And what I want right now is to speak to Lady Velomina."

"There's no need for handcuffs, my brother will take care of it," Jonah respectfully smiles to the cops, while Jade holds onto his mother's elbow. Lady Velomina barely has make up on after being depressed all throughout Lian's recovery.

The twins faced her in the car, all while their mother is fighting tears.

She knows what Jonah is glaring at her for, so she sniffed and lifts her head at her blonde son, "It's the first time you've given me that look, Jonah.

Have you finally come to hate me? Or did you always, you just won't hide it anymore? "

"I hate you for what you did, not for what you were," Jonah says with gritted teeth, "Don't pathing I am the same as Jade, hating you all these years.

I never did, up until you pulled that trigger.

Lian is a saint for not hating you after ruining everything, not even an apology would make me forgive you for hurting him. "

"No apology could forgive what I had done, because I had ruined his life even before you two were born," Velomina smiled in a sad, sorrowful way.

"All I can do is regret. I had been a coward right from the start.

I should've killed your father, then killed myself.

Lei Ann would've stayed alive... and Lian would still be a teacher living in peace. "

"And we wouldn't be born?" Jonah asks, tilting his head. But mostly because he refuses to show them transparency in his eyes. "Do you regret having us that much?"

Jade scolds him, "Jonah..."

"Was I not obedient enough for you, mother?

Was Jade too rebellious?" Jonah's tone started to reveal his true feelings.

"Was me sacrificing my social life and entire self to become the Deveroux heir not good enough to be worthy of life?

Now that I'm no longer the heir, am I useless?

That's exactly what you think, isn't it mother?

I'm no longer of use now that I'm no longer the heir? "

"I almost lost the man I will destroy the world for, you think I'm only gonna kill father if that happens? Believe me mother, I'll get rid of the one who pulled the trigger as well!"

Jonah looks into Jade's eyes, trembling because he can barely see himself. He can only look away and towards the passing buildings, refusing to even look at their mother.

But like all mothers, Velomina held Jonah's hand to understand and forgive him.

"I do not regret having you. You two are wonderful boys who made me proud.

All I'm saying is that things could've gone differently.

Someone I love would still be alive if I wasn't a coward.

I can't change that, nothing could change that.

But you two are not one of the things I have regretted.

Do not forget that my boys are the reason I have stayed alive. To make sure you grew up well."

Jade has heard that before. Now he wishes Jonah could understand it the way he did.

"I was barely a mother, never there for the two of you.

Too caught up in a woman I couldn't have, and eventually lost. But Jade built his own Kingdom, while you took care of your father's empire.

That's something you didn't take from me, you did that yourself.

I couldn't be prouder," she reached for Jonah's hand, the warmth of a mother he has always wanted.

"I regret being a coward. I regret not being a good enough mom to you boys.

And now I've put Lian in danger... it's something that I will never forgive myself for. I could only beg for yours."

"You are my sons, not a product of anything," Velomina shakes her head, "From the moment you were born healthy, you made me so proud. My little Prince Jonah, and my fierce baby Jade."

That made Jonah scoff and chuckle, "You're born second."

"No I wasn't." Jade looked to her for confirmation, "Mom, I was first, right?"

Velomina sighs, taking Jade's ring-filled hand and kissing it, before admitting, "You were heavier, but it didn't mean you were the first."

"Mom, I am the eldest!" Jade argued.

"There's no eldest my love, you're born on the same day. You're both healthy boys who gave me 13 stitches."

Jonah can't help but laugh because Jade really just turned red at the realization he is not the older twin by a minute. Velomina smiled, taking both their hands this time. "Will you two ever accept me as your mommy? Will you give me a second chance to be the mother you deserve?"

The twins look at each other, questioning if they're ready to heal. It was Jonah to places his hand on top of hers. "You're our only one. I'm not the type to cry over the past. I'd rather focus on the future."

"Addressing the past is the first step to having a bright future," she leans in to hug Jonah, kissing his head as if he was a little boy all over again. "I love you."

She pulls away and hugs Jade too, but it was a mere attempt since he pushes her away. "Jade..."

"No! Ew! Go away!" Velomina insisted and grabs his head, forcing a kiss on his hair despite him squealing in protest. "Arrrgghhhh, stop!"

"I love you too, my little gorilla..." she assured him, and Jade was too embarrassed about the affection that he tried to hide his red face. Jonah's ghost of a smile is real this time, and he squeezes his mother's hand to reassure her that everything will be fine.

Velomina entered Lian's hospital room after a gentle knock, and it took everything not to fall to her knees and cry. Lian greets her with a sad smile, and she knew he is aware of his mother's loss.

"I uhh..." she walks towards the bed, hands trembling which she hides by folding her arms. "I hope you'll find it in your heart to let me be there for her farewell. I love her deeply, just as I know you do."

"You deserve to be there," Lian replies, opening his palm to as for her hand. "You took care of her so well."

It was then Velomina shook his head and tears welled in her eyes. "I did not. I left her alone, I failed. I didn't protect her—if I did, she'd still be here. I made her suffer, I destroyed her life—I destroyed yours."

"I forgive you, Mother..." his words made her heart feel less heavy. "... but please forgive yourself, too. You're not the reason my mom died. If ever, you gave her the happiest moments of her life by forgiving her and loving her back. I do not blame you for her death."

Lian asked for a hug, and of course Velomina smiled for the first time in a while and hugged him tightly, feeling a familiar embrace full of warmth. It was so warm, as if she was back...

And she was. Velomina looked at the glass in front of Lian, and widened her eyes at the image of a woman on the other side of Lian's bed, her hand lovingly touching her son.

Lei Ann—Velomina refused to move her head.

She was here. Smiling softly, looking at Velomina as if waiting for her to look.

Lei Ann was smiling while waiting for the moment their eyes meet once again.

But Velomina refused to turn her head, knowing she will see no one behind Lian, and her image will disappear.

There was no sound, but those lips moved. "It'll be okay, Mina."

Velomina started crying, eyes on the reflection and refusing to look away. In her peripherals, she knows no one is there. One blink, and she might disappear—Velomina won't let that happen. She can't let the image of Lei Ann go yet... not yet.

"I love you both. You know that, right? It's okay to let me go."

Velomina shakes her head, "No. No, I can't—I can't. I'm not strong enough, I can't—"

"Mother?" Lian looks up at her, wondering why she's sobbing heavily. She cannot tell him his real mother was behind him; one move might make her image disappear. Lei Ann smiled, as if telling her it's okay.

It's okay.

Velomina had lived her life chasing after Lei Ann with a closed fist. Khalid was right, she has always been that lovesick little girl who refused to set Lei Ann free. Even in death, she...

"No..." Velomina finally closed her eyes, looking at the young man in her arms with a smile, knowing that it's okay to let go, it's okay to move on. It's okay to live life for herself, instead of living it for someone else—be it Khalid or Lei Ann. It's okay to live.

"I'm just so happy that I could see your mother again, Lian." She kept her eyes on him, no longer desiring to look at Lei Ann. "Through you... your eyes. Your heart. She's here. She will always be."

Velomina hugs him tighter, looking back at the mirror to see Lei Ann gone.

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