Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter 26: Austin.

He blinked awake in the dark, alone... afraid. He had dreamt of her yet again, it had been years since he thought of her. He could not distinguish if he loved or hated her. She had played a big part in his life, she built him up just as she destroyed him. Austin thought of her, his mother's announcement had not set well with him. Why did his brother feel the need to return after all these years? He felt nothing but anger for his parents for allowing them back into their lives... Austin felt hurt, destroyed. Simultaneously he felt some sort of excitement and mischief.

—

* Flashback *

"Austin sweetheart?" His sixty-four year old mother stood up to give him a hug. He had not visited them in so long. His father held onto his cup of tea, nonetheless he was happy Austin had arrived announced. Austin looked at his mother, she looked fragile and sweet, like she had always been. He wondered why did the 'nice gene' pass him by. After roughly manhandling Merrigold, he had to leave. He could not bare the thought of being at that plantation. It made him sick to the core. He hated her, he hated Merrigold for the imbalanced emotions she made him feel. He hated her for the way she treated him, so not caring and callous. He hated her.

"Trying to keep the caveman look are you son?" His father chuckled in his seat.

Austin gave him a brief smile then shaking his head. "I haven't gathered the time to even take care of myself."

"I know the plantation can get very very busy.."

"Yes, Mother." Austin replied take a seat in their new lavish retirement home.

"You're just in luck, I just baked some Scottish short bread cookies. I know you adore those!"

Austin sighed. "I'd love that Mother but I do not have the appetite right now."

"Is everything alright?" His father questioned setting his paper down. "Being a thirty-two year old misogynistic must be hard I reckon."

"Father, how many times do I have to explain myself? I do not hate women."

"...at thirty-two some already have nine year old sons and daughters." His mother reasoned.

Austin sighed. "Please do not make me regret coming to visit."

"We ought to knock some sense into you from time to time buddy!" His father chuckled, Austin only seemed aggravated.

"Good thing you came, we have some good news that will lighten up the mood?"

"Stella Ward finally died?" Austin asked, sarcastically.

"AUSTIN!" His Parents gasped.

"I told you time and again that you dropped him on his head as a child." Austin's father added shaking his head.

"Walter if you had been around to help me take care of the twins—"

"I had a plantation to take care of Rosie.."

"No—"

"Please stop debating for goodness sake!" Austin raised his voice. "Please!"

"Henry and Stella are coming to visit." His mother told him, for a second he felt rather emotionless then it all came out, the anger he had kept within for years.

In that moment, he simply got up and left without a word. He remembered all that he had been through with her, he remembered how she had made him feel. It all escalated quickly. If Austin could turn back time, he wished he had never crossed paths with her.

—

The day had finally came, everyone was at the house based at the plantation. Austin did not look up from his plate as the whole family conversed. His twin sister and her husband were present, so was Austin's older brother and the devil. For a moment he took his time to stare at her, while she talked. Her brown hair... the freckles on her face, her laugh and green eyes. He held so much resentment for this woman. Henry, down to earth as always he tried to hold a conversation with Austin, who only gave one worded replies. This had been the first time they had met Henry and Stella's children. Austin was not fond of them at all. He played with the food in his plate, he wondered when his parents would leave, it was their house but he wanted everyone gone.

His gaze met hers and she smiled lightly at him. He only felt nauseated with anger. The death glare he offered her made the woman feel uncomfortable. As everyone laughed and enjoyed the family reunion, Austin excused himself for a smoke, after a couple of minutes he felt someone put their hand on his shoulder. He was not surprised to see Stella.

"You've grown up to be a handsome man, Austin." She grinned the red lipstick made her teeth seem whiter than they were. He felt nervous and panicked.

"I can not say the same about you..." He replied. "Pushing out watermelons must have worn you out."

"I'm a proud mother, they mean the world to me."

There was awkward silence.

"I'd really like if we put everything behind us."

"No, I won't." He chuckled. "Nice try!"

"You're still a narcissistic—"

"No, Stella. You groomed me to be the way I am, so shut you old haggard mouth."

"I did not—"

"Touching thirteen year olds must be your hobby then... just don't do so to your boys."

Her throat was dry. "Uh... thank you for not telling..."

Austin only chuckled. "Oh... good that you came because I've been meaning to."

Changing her facial expression, the Stella that Austin knew was finally back. "They will never take your word against mine. You already have a reputation and everyone thinks you're a hopeless misogynistic arse.!"

"I hate you so much Stella."

"I love you too." She smiled, laying a chaste kiss on his cheek almost grasping over his bottom lip. Austin felt like the vulnerable little boy he once was again. She held so much power over him. Blinking some tears away... he had not cried in years and he could not. Not now in her presence.

"Maybe we can... you know do it for the last time, for old times sake."

"You disgust me, you really do." He shoved at her with so much force that she fell back. As if on time, Henry saw the whole scene. As always he blamed Austin. With Stella crying wolf everyone got off the table and blamed Austin for reuniting the reunion. At that moment, Austin left...

Harriet ran after him.

"Austin!"

"Austin..."

"Austin come back..."

Coming to a halt, Austin only turned back and shoved her to the ground. "Piss off!"

That night Merrigold had to be the one to bare his anger. He pulled her out of the women's commune and took her to the stables where he relentlessly took advantage of her. She begged for him to stop, she had never seen this side of him. She asked him what was the matter. She asked how could she change his mind. He only told her to close her mouth. When she screamed, he assured her that he would be sure to deal with her loved ones. It was in this moment that Austin noticed her 12 weeks belly bump that she had been hiding all this time. It only heightened his anger. He knew well enough that it was not his. It couldn't be, he had been so disgusted with her that he never came anywhere near her. How had he not expected her to get pregnant from all the deeds she had been doing? It caught him so off guard. He yelled at her, choked her, beat her and had his way with her leaving a bloody mess. As if witnesses to a gruesome crime scene, the horses galloped in their secluded stances, neighing loudly with helplessness for Merrigold's cries. After fighting for so long, she helplessly let him but even then he would not stop making her feel his rage.