Keeping secrets can be a heavy burden. They weigh on the soul, making it difficult to find peace. Secrets have a way of growing darker with time, their shadows stretching further and further. It is the nature of secrets to eventually come to light, no matter how hard we try to bury them.
Martha gripped the edge of her shirt tightly, the fabric digging into her skin as she tried to push back the memories of that fateful day. Tears streaked down her face, leaving a trail of pain in their wake. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the images that haunted her, but they persisted, refusing to be silenced.
She knew deep down that hiding the truth would only lead to more suffering. It was better to face the consequences of her actions and confess, rather than let the darkness of her secrets consume her. Martha took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she knew she must do. It was time to bring her secrets into the light, no matter how terrifying it may be.
"Elena, you have wondered all these years why I stopped being a businesswoman. Why I retired so early and decided to stay at home, making your father the only reason our businesses grew." Martha said in a trembling tone.
As Elena gazed at her mother, laying motionless in bed, she couldn't help but question why Martha had relinquished her thriving career. She struggled to understand, attributing it to outdated notions of women's roles as solely caretakers of the home. Back then, society expected women to sacrifice their aspirations for the sake of their families, leaving little room for personal fulfillment.
"I had to walk away from that life because I felt like I was crumbling into mere ashes! There were moments when I wanted to disappear," Martha's voice wavered as she divulged the darkest thoughts she harbored during her younger years, grappling with her inner turmoil.
"You...you were going through a difficult time?" Elena whispered, the weariness evident in her voice as she suppressed the discomfort from her recent surgery. Martha nodded, her hand covering her mouth to quiet the soft sobs of sorrow escaping her lips.
"Mom, what...what happened?" Elena asked, her gaze fixed on her mother's pained expression. Martha turned her head slightly, her mind drifting back to those challenging moments in her past.
F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
"I'm afraid your wife is currently experiencing postpartum depression, Sir. It's clear that she's struggling to cope with many aspects of her life at this moment," a gray-haired man with a crooked nose expressed to the worried soon-to-be father.
"But...how is that possible? She hasn't even given birth yet, so how can it be diagnosed as postpartum depression?" James questioned, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at the doctor seated across from him.
"Sometimes, women can experience a more severe and persistent form of depression known as peripartum or postpartum depression. This type of depression can begin during pregnancy and extend after childbirth. In Martha's case, she exhibits the symptoms that align with this diagnosis. It's crucial that she receives professional assistance as this type of depression may endure beyond childbirth," the doctor informed James McLain. It was a day that marked a significant shift in his world as he learned that his wife's struggles stemmed from peripartum depression.
E̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞ o̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
"Postpartum depression? You were diagnosed with depression while you were pregnant?" Elena inquired, her voice filled with surprise upon learning her mother's reason for stepping back from much of her life. Martha simply nodded, a tear slipping from her right eye.
"I was battling an internal struggle, El! There were times when I wished for death! Every night I lay next to your father, I would contemplate my own demise," Martha confessed, her eyes cast downward. Elena swallowed hard, trying to comprehend the depth of her mother's pain.
"Even now, I am still in therapy," Martha confessed, startling Elena. Her eyes widened in realization that her mother was still grappling with depression. Martha glanced over and caught a glimpse of Elena's surprised expression.
"Mom," Elena whispered softly as she gently squeezed Martha's hand. Martha smiled faintly and brought her daughter's hand to her lips, tenderly kissing her knuckles in response.
"Only my therapist knows the chaos that resides in my mind," Martha added.
"Is that the reason I was sent away?" Elena's voice trembled with a deep ache in her heart. Martha closed her eyes tightly upon hearing her daughter's question.
"Yes, and no," Martha replied, causing Elena to furrow her brow in confusion. Martha slowly released Elena's hand, giving her a sorrowful look.
F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
"I think it might be beneficial for you to heed your husband's suggestions. Perhaps your mental health would improve if you took some time apart from seeing your daughter's face," a woman in her late forties advised, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"I... I just feel like it would be a mistake to distance myself from an innocent child! But every time I see her smiling at me, I'm overwhelmed by memories of that night. I cry for days as I'm haunted by thoughts of harming her in my mind. I don't want to hurt her!" Martha sobbed uncontrollably, gripping the arms of the chair tightly in front of her therapist.
"You are a danger to that child, Martha! Listen to your husband and take a step back from her for now. You need to focus on your own healing and well-being before reuniting with her. You must prioritize yourself because you are the only one who can help you through this. If not for yourself, then do it for the innocent child who doesn't deserve the turmoil you're experiencing constantly," the therapist declared firmly, looking into Martha's distraught eyes.
E̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞ o̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
"What are you trying to say? I don't understand," Elena muttered with apprehension as she listened to her mother recounting the past.
"Elena, I sent you away because I wanted to protect you from myself," Martha confessed, tears welling in her eyes and threatening to spill over. Elena gazed at her mother with a mix of confusion and concern, the situation feeling incredibly strange and difficult to comprehend.
"To protect me from you? My own mother?" Elena's voice quivered as she felt a lump form in her throat. Tears streamed down Martha's face, her expression reflecting deep remorse.
"I wanted to kill you, Elena! I had fantasies of harming you with my own hands when you were just a little child!" Martha choked on her words, covering her eyes in shame at the memory of her past thoughts. Elena gasped, her heart racing like never before, a cold chill running through her entire body.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Elena! Sending you away was the only way I thought I could cope with my severe depression! James believed that if you were gone, my suffering would end sooner. I reluctantly agreed because I believed it was what was best for you at that time!" Martha's words were interspersed with tears flowing freely. Elena felt tears streaming down her own cheeks as she gazed at her mother with eyes full of fear, struggling to come to terms with the revelation that her own mother had once considered harming her.
"But... why me? Why didn't you send Axel away too? Why did you only want to harm me?!" Elena cried out at her mother in a sudden outburst of hysteria.
"Elena, please try to calm down!" Martha said with concern, noticing the heart monitor reacting to the sudden outburst. Elena buried her face in her hands, tears falling as she lamented her unfortunate fate as a daughter who felt unloved by her own mother from the start.
"Elena, please... I was in a dark place... I just wanted to shield you because you're my daughter! Despite everything I was going through!" Martha said, moving closer to the bed and gently rubbing her daughter's arm in an attempt to soothe her. Elena gave her a skeptical glance.
"Is it because I'm not your husband's daughter?" Elena asked, her eyes welling up with tears at the realization that she might not truly be a McLain. Martha's eyes filled with sorrow upon hearing Elena's question about James. Her body tensed at the thought of Elena's biological father.
"I'm not really Axel's twin sister? My entire life has been a lie?" Elena's voice cracked as she stared at the ceiling. The pain coursing through her body became unbearable at the thought of being an illegitimate child.
"I'm sorry, Elena! I'm truly sorry that I never had the courage to tell you the truth! I was so scared, and even now, I'm still afraid!" Martha mumbled as she wiped away her tears with her hands. Elena slowly turned her head to look at her mother, seeing the discomfort and pain etched in her demeanor.
"Who is my real father, Mom? And why have you been hiding this for so long?" Elena asked, her gaze steady. Martha gulped, realizing her daughter's determination to uncover the truth. She knew that the time had come to reveal the secret she had kept buried for so many years, understanding that the truth would surface eventually, whether she was ready for it or not.
"Elena, I was married to James. I was happy and in love, but I was also young and naive, unaware of the danger that lurked within our own home," Martha confessed, rising from her chair. She walked away slowly, comforting herself as she prepared to recount painful memories. Elena's gaze remained steady and eager as she listened intently to her mother's words.
"Back then, we lived with your grandparents in the mansion we now call home! James's parents were incredibly supportive and eager for us to be with them. So, James and I happily agreed to their proposal and moved in with them immediately after our honeymoon," Martha recounted, closing her eyes tightly as she delved into the memory.
F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
"Allow me, miss! This seems too heavy for you!" A man interjected, offering his assistance. Martha looked surprised but grateful, offering him a gentle smile as the gardener helped her with the bags.
"Nigel, thank you! You're always so kind and attentive!" Martha praised him as he assisted her with the bags into the mansion. He beamed at her, placing the bags on the table before excusing himself.
"You sure bought the whole store, Miss!" he quipped, scratching the back of his head. Martha chuckled at his remark and playfully nudged him.
"Ugh...stop exaggerating! I just needed to buy some clothes for my husband and myself. We just need a new wardrobe for this fall!" Martha muttered with a slight pout. Nigel chuckled and nodded in understanding.
"Well, I really don't understand how people need new wardrobes every season, but I suppose it's normal for people like you!" he remarked, prompting Martha to look at him with a sudden sense of fondness.
"I bought something for you as well!" she added suddenly. Nigel's eyes widened in surprise.
"What? For me?" He asked in astonishment as he watched his boss retrieve a piece of clothing from the large designer shopping bags. Martha beamed at him, proudly displaying the leather jacket she had purchased for him.
"Miss, this is too much! How can I ever repay you for this? I can't possibly afford such a luxurious gift!" he muttered, his eyes fixed on the beautiful piece she held out to him. Martha frowned at his words and shook her head gently in response.
"It's a gift, Nigel! A token of appreciation for a good friend! I've always considered you a friend since our school days. I think you're an amazing person, so kind and sweet," she said with tender eyes, watching as his eyes welled up with tears.
"Thank you," Nigel whispered, a tear trickling down his cheek. Martha smiled and enveloped him in a warm hug. To her, Nigel was more than just an employee; he was an old friend whom she deeply admired and cherished.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?" A voice exclaimed, pulling away from the hug with as they both turned to see Harrison McLain, Martha's father-in-law, standing there in astonishment.
"Sir, I... I was just trying to be nice to Nigel! He's an old friend of mine from high school," Martha stammered, bowing her head slightly with a hint of fear creeping through her veins. Nigel, on the other hand, was fully bowing in deference to his boss.
"Nigel, if I catch you taking liberties in my house again, I will not hesitate to fire you! Do you hear me?" Harrison's voice boomed as he gave Nigel a stern look. Nigel bowed once more, accepting the reprimand, and quickly retreated to the garden area.
"Sir, I'm truly sorry! It wasn't Nigel's fault; it was me who took liberties! Please understand!" Martha pleaded, trying to avoid his wrath. Harrison suddenly stepped closer, gently tilting her chin to meet his gaze.
"If I ever catch you touching that man again in my presence, I will not tolerate it! What kind of woman do you think I am seeing right now?" he asked in a low, stern tone, his eyes filled with disgust. Martha gulped nervously, feeling intimidated by his dark and menacing gaze.
"Don't you dare provoke me again," he said, pulling her closer swiftly. Their noses nearly touching, he gave her one last warning look.
E̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞d̳̿͟͞ o̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ F̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞b̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞
OᑎᒪY TᗯO ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇᔕ ᒪEᖴT!
ᗪOᑎT ᖴOᖇGET TO ᐯOTE!
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