Thorn in the Rose {Book 1 Of The Once Upon A Time Chronicles}

Chapter 27: Letters and a Lost Family

{2 Months Later}

Unlike most people I've met throughout my life I have never been a fan of surprises. That sudden shock which is supposed to fill you with joy only fills me with such a sense of nerves that my body begins to shake. 

Like now my hands start to shake as I pick up the crinkly envelope that I had shoved into the draw where I kept all my clothes for the past three days. My breath hitches in my throat as I read the curly writing on the front for what feels like the thousandth time this last hour.

To Valerie Bernard

From Marie Bernard

Marie Bernard. My mother.

Two months have passed since I wrote that anger-filled letter to her and just when I thought I was done with her for the rest of my life and I would never hear from her again this dreadful thing was delivered to me. Two months since I wrote the letter. Three days since her response was delivered, and I still haven't read it. Why did she have to send a letter back to me? Why couldn't she have left me alone? 

Even though a small part of my mind can't wrap around the fact that she dared to do this the rest of me completely understands the reasoning behind it. This is what she has done my entire life, in any and every argument we've had she has made it her mission to always have the last word. 

I've been sitting on my bed looking at the sealed envelope for three hours now. Tried to open it six times but with no success. I want to shove it back into the draw and forget all about it and move on with my life but I can't. I will never forgive myself if I allow my mother to control this small aspect of my life. 

Sighing I pick up one of my daggers and use the blade to slice open the letter and reveal the contents inside. 

Dearest Valerie, 

Upon reading your letter a sense of concern washed through me. As a mother, you do everything you can to ensure that your child has the best life possible. Sending you to Paris was my way of giving you a better life and as per usual you have decided to be an ungrateful brat and throw it away. Paris would have given you everything you could ever need, a wonderful home, a loving and faithful husband, and children to complete your life. Your father used to tell me that you were special and that I should allow you to embrace your nature but he didn't know anything about being a woman in these times. He never knew the importance of having to get married at a certain age, the need to provide an heir, or having your entire life be reduced to who you marry. 

Your father never understood that but I do and as your mother, I am telling you you must go to Paris. Please Valerie you must abandon this silly notion of living on your own and making your own way in this world. 

I expect to receive a letter from your aunt informing me of your arrival within the next month. If I do not receive such a letter then I will be making the difficult decision and cut you off. You will no longer receive any money from the trust your father and I set up for you and your brothers, you will not have a room at the family home, and essentially you will no longer be a member of this family. 

I pray this letter served as a wake-up call for you and I implore you to take my advice and travel through to Paris. 

Sincerely, 

Your mother. 

"Cette chienne sans coeur," I mumble under my breath as I toss the letter aside. 

For the first time since leaving home, I wish my mother was here with me so that I can scream all the things I want to scream right in her face. Of all the thongs she could have threatened me with she decided to cut straight to the worst-case scenario and tell me she will disown me if I don't do what she wants. 

I know for a fact she's sitting in that damn rocking chair of hers thinking she won the battle but that will not happen. I will not allow her to dictate my life any longer. She's waiting for a letter from my aunt but it will never come, instead, she will get another one from me. 

I rush to the desk and grab another envelope a piece of paper and the pencil. Years of rage that had been made stronger by her recent words to me flow through me as I write my next and hopefully last letter to her. 

Dear Marie,

I have received your latest letter and open reading it I do not regret to inform you that the letter you are so patiently waiting for from Paris will never arrive. I will not be going to Paris and I certainly will not live the life you want for me. I understand that this means I will be disowned, but that does not scare me in the slightest. I never had any family after Dad died anyway. 

Enjoy the rest of your life Marie because I will certainly enjoy mine now that I am finally rid of you. 

Valerie. 

I spent the rest of my day in my room. Both Sophie and Adrien tried to check in on me but I didn't let them in, making up some excuse that I wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to risk getting them sick. hey probably think I've got the plague and I'm laying here dying but so far it's given me some peace to reflect on the decision I'm making by sending this letter. I will lose what family I have left and even though I hate them with all my soul, not even I can erase the fact that they are my family. 

It doesn't matter anymore, whatever bonds we had are all gone now, and what family I have left is now long gone and lost, never to return, never to be mine again. 

Translations: 

Cette chienne sans coeur: That heartless bitch.