Chapter 401 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I called because I wanted to let you know that I am not insensitive. I don’t care if there is a tiny part of you that thinks so, or maybe it came from your subconscious. I’m letting you know that I am not insensitive, and I’ve never been insensitive… Well, apart from what I said to Lucas immediately after he broke up with Rachel.”

She continued, hardly pausing for breath, “As far as I’m concerned, I have been the most sensitive member of this family for way too long, and now I’m done carrying that burden. My feelings matter too. Because I care too much about all of you, I have tried to keep most of my fears and feelings to myself, so you don’t feel guilty or get upset, but now I’m done doing that too.”

“I love you both very much, but I realize that I’ve not loved myself enough, and I think it’s time I started doing so. I’m not angry with either of you anymore. I have chosen to no longer be resentful of you both for not noticing when I started withdrawing and for not trying to find out if I was okay as I would have wanted you to do as my parents. Also, I will no longer silently blame you for not being there for me as my parents as I needed you to be either. You have both been perfect parents in your own way, and I’m grateful that I got you both. I understand now that you’re humans and because you do not have this whole life and parenting thing figured out as I assumed, you are still prone to making mistakes. I forgive you for being yourselves, and I hope you can forgive me for silently resenting you all these years based on my own expectations and for whatever else I may have done that triggered you to speak to me in that manner.” Once Celsie was done speaking, she let out a relieved sigh, and that was when she realized that she had been crying, and her face was wet with tears.

“Celsie, I’m sorry we hurt you without meaning to. We would have done whatever you wanted us to do as your parents if only you had told us. You always seemed so independent and self-sufficient even before the incident, and we didn’t want to take that away from you because we believed it was your identity. Lucas was always more dependent and more open about his feelings. We wanted you to be yourself because we trusted you, not because we didn’t care about you or notice the changes in you. When you stopped joining us in the living room for the soap operas, we noticed. We noticed, but we assumed you were outgrowing it, and we didn’t want to bother you. When you started eating less, I asked if you were having boy trouble, and you said no, so I assumed you were just trying not to put on weight the way most teenage girls do. I always believed that we were the kind of parents you would come to if you needed help, and you wouldn’t need to be coerced to tell us if something was wrong. Hence I didn’t see the need to pressure you to talk. I’m sorry I assumed wrongly. It was my fault. I should have asked. I made so many assumptions, and I will always live with that regret knowing what it cost you, what it cost us. I should have made sure I found out what was wrong with you. I’m sorry I never realized this was how you felt. You just kept saying you were fine after everything, and I didn’t want to force you to speak because I didn’t want to trigger bad memories. I’m sorry I failed to be a good mother,” Janet pleaded amidst her own tears and covered her face in her hands, while Andrew just sat beside her with a sad look on his face and his hand draped around his wife’s shoulder in comfort.

“You didn’t fail me. Maybe I thought so at some point, but I don’t think so anymore. You weren’t perfect, but you were a good mother,” Celsie assured her mother.

“I will do better, I promise,” Janet said in a broken voice, and Andrew nodded.

“I’m sorry, princess. We will do better. We will pay more attention to you,” Andrew said, and Celsie shook her head as she wiped her tears.

“You already do. I just wanted to get this off my chest because I’ve kept it in for so long. I love you both, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything,” Celsie assured them.

“We love you too, pumpkin. We really do, more than you can imagine,” Janet said, feeling relieved that Celsie had expressed her feelings.

“Everything will be fine, mom. And don’t worry, Lucas will be fine too,” Celsie said confidently, wanting to move on from the subject.

“What about Benne and the others? How are they?” Janet asked curiously.

“Benne is okay. His parents should be on their way to Sogal by now with Bryan and Sonia,” Celsie said and remembered that she was yet to speak with Sonia.

“I will give them a call after I hear from Lucas,” Janet said, and Celsie nodded.

“I need to get back to work now. I love you both.”

“We love you too. And give our regards to Benne,” Andrew responded before hanging up.

“You don’t have to drive me around anymore. You’re CEO now. I’m taking my own car. You should take yours too,” Benne told Harry over the phone as he took his private elevator to his private parking lot.

“I’m not complaining. Besides, it’s not practical. We are going to the same place, so it makes sense that we use the same car,” Harry said as he left his office, they were ready to go to OmniGlobal airlines for the last meeting before the official opening ceremony.

“You’re beginning to make me feel you love my company so much, and you want to be in the same car with me by all means, even if it means you have to be my driver,” Benne said in amusement, and Harry chuckled.

“Haven’t I told you I’m in love with you?” Harry asked, and Benne’s face scrunched up in disgust.

“Ew! I hope nobody heard that!” Benne said, and Harry chuckled.

“Since you don’t want me to drive you, how about you return the favor and drive me for a change?” Harry asked as he walked into the elevator.

“You realize I’m going to be leaving to meet with those foundation ladies after the meeting at the airline?” Benne reminded him.

“Perfect! I want to come with you for that meeting,” Harry offered, “And don’t you dare say no. I have to be there. It was my idea,” he reminded Benne.

“Whatever. Wait for me in front of the building now. If I get there before you, I’m leaving you,” Benne warned as he hung up.

He got into his car before dialing Celsie’s line after hanging up, “Hey, pretty!” He said once the call connected.

Celsie, who was trying to settle back to work after the phone call with her parents, smiled, “I take it you’re calling because you’re leaving the office?” She asked, believing he won’t bother her during work hours unless it was necessary.

“Am I that predictable?”

“Being predictable isn’t a bad thing. I like that I can guess what you’re up to,” Celsie assured him.

“Good response. That’s not the only reason I called. How are you feeling? Do you need a belly rub?” Benne asked, and Celsie giggled.

“Like you’re going to cancel your meeting to do that,” she said in amusement.

“I guess I’m not so predictable then. I can postpone the meeting. Some things are a matter of urgency,” Benne said, and she grinned again.

“Yeah, things like giving your girlfriend a belly rub. I’m sure you’ll find a more diplomatic way of saying that to the shareholders and board of directors,” Celsie said dryly.

“I’m sure they’ll trust my judgment. The company needs me to be at my best all the time. And I can’t be at my best if my Jewel isn’t feeling well. Hence, I will need to postpone the meeting and make her feel okay in order for me to be okay enough to attend to the company,” Benne explained, and Celsie laughed.

“I love you, Ace,” she said with a wide smile, and if he could see her eyes at the moment, he would have seen her heart in her eyes.

“I love you more. Since you don’t need a belly rub, I should run along then. I’ll be seeing Anita. Do you have any message you need me to deliver to her?” Benne asked, and Celsie giggled.

“I’m sure whatever you’re likely going to tell her is enough for two. It will be your first meeting since you officially revealed your identity, so you both can’t pretend not to know each other anymore. I’m curious to know how she would react to seeing you and how your conversation with her today plays out.”

“I’m curious too. Don’t worry. For your sake, I might just record our conversations so that you don’t miss anything. Or would you rather I call you discreetly, so you listen in directly? I could even wear an airpod, and then you can tell me what you think as you listen,” Benne suggested, and Celsie laughed softly, knowing that he actually meant it.

“I’m too busy right now to eavesdrop on your conversation with her. You can just tell me about it after work. By the way, has Harry told you about us having dinner with him after work?” Celsie asked, and Benne raised a brow.

“Dinner? When did you speak with him?” Benne asked curiously.

“Earlier this morning.”

He had been talking with Harry earlier before he was called away to attend to something, and from there, he had gone to supervise the job interview, so that was why he probably had not mentioned it yet, “No, he hasn’t told me yet, but I’m sure he will mention it later. What did you tell him? Are you up for it?” Benne asked, and Celsie smiled as she remembered what Harry had said about Benne being wrapped around her finger.

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