Chapter 995 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“What for? Since when?” Jade asked with a concerned frown, and Celsie shrugged.

“Why do people go for therapy? I guess I’m yet to entirely heal from my trauma. Last week was my first time,” Celsie said, and Jade nodded.

“Why are you telling me this, though?” Jade asked curiously, and Celsie shrugged.

“Because it is something I want you to know. I will always tell you the things I think you should know, and in exchange, you have to promise not to pry into my relationship with Benne…”

“To be honest with you, Celsie, I’m not sure I understand what you all mean by prying and meddling. What is so wrong with asking questions or wanting to know more about what is going on in the life of my loved ones?” Jade asked with a slight frown.

“Asking questions is not wrong, as long as you drop it when the other person makes it clear they don’t want to talk about it. And you shouldn’t ask questions that make people uncomfortable. You do that a lot to Candace. There is a very thin line between asking questions and prying. Knowing when not to cross that line is very important,” Celsie explained.

“I see. I guess I tend to pry and interfere a lot, and it has become a habit. So, please don’t be mad when I do it. I would appreciate it if you point it out to me whenever I do so without thinking. That would make me more conscious of it,” Jade said, and Celsie nodded.

“Sure, I will,” Celsie said, and before she could speak further, her phone started ringing, and she pursed her lips when she saw that it was a call from Evelyn.

“Excuse me for a moment. I need to take this call,” Celsie said as she rose and quickly walked out of the bedroom.

She cleared her throat as she received the call and walked down the hall so she could speak freely on the balcony with no one around to eavesdrop on the phone call.

“Celsie?” Evelyn called tentatively when the call connected.

“Were you expecting someone else to receive the call?” Celsie asked, mildly amused.

“I didn’t think you would want to talk to me after what I did,” Evelyn explained with a sigh.

“Well, I received the call mainly because I was curious to know why you were calling. Are you calling to directly put the blame on me, or am I to expect an apology from you?” Celsie asked as she opened the door to the balcony and stepped outside.

“I’m sorry, Celsie. I shouldn’t have done or said all of that. I was wrong to let my emotions get the best of me. Can you find it in you to forgive me?” Evelyn asked, not wanting to make any more excuses.

Celsie sighed as she sat on one of the seats there, “I will forgive you only if you give me your word that you will never interfere in our relationship again. I understand that Benne is your beloved son, but he is also a full-grown man, and you need to trust him to make his own life decisions…”

“I trust him. I swear to God, Celsie, I do. I never would have talked to Lawrence had I heard from Benne first or had that conversation with you at the porch the other day. I meant every word I said to you on the porch. I had no idea Lawrence would go this far to prove a point to Benne,” Evelyn said, and Celsie sighed.

“I’m sorry I told Bryan about you not wanting to get married, Celsie. And I’m sorry I put the blame on you instead of taking responsibility for my actions,” Evelyn said when Celsie remained silent.

“I forgive you. But this can’t happen again, Evelyn, especially for Benne’s sake. You got him really upset,” Celsie said with a frown as she realized that she had been more upset for Benne’s sake.

“It won’t ever happen again, Celsie. Can you help me plead with Benne to forgive me too? And if possible, call me so I can apologize to him properly as I should have done before,” Evelyn asked hopefully.

“I don’t think he would want to speak with you again tonight. Maybe by morning…”

“Morning is still a long time away, Celsie. Please help me. I don’t want Desmond to sleep in the guest room tonight,” Evelyn pleaded.

“Alright. I will see what I can do,” Celsie said before hanging up.

Away from there, in Benne’s bedroom, he sat on the balcony as he spoke with his father over the phone.

“Yes. I was quite surprised when I found out grandfather was behind it too,” Benne told his father.

“You should cut him off. He must think he can do whatever he likes simply because we let him walk in and out of our lives whenever he pleases. I’ve told him to stay away from every one of you!” Desmond said angrily.

“Please calm down, Dad,” Benne said calmly.

“How can I be calm? Your mom is to blame for all of this! If she weren’t always reporting everything about you kids to him, he wouldn’t have pulled such crap! She doesn’t listen. She seems to think she knows it all, now see the mess she has caused,” Desmond said, and Benne sighed.

Benne was sort of glad that he did not bother to tell his dad how his mom was pushing the blame on Celsie. That would make him even more angry than he already was, and Benne did not want that.

“I’m sure both Grandpa and Mom have learned their lessons. Please forgive them,” Benne said, and Desmond frowned.

“How do you know they have learned their lessons? They are never going to learn their lessons unless there is a drastic consequence for their actions. Why should you forgive them so easily?” Desmond asked, and Benne smiled.

“Because you have always taught us that if there is one thing we must never postpone in life, it is forgiveness. Do you remember how you used to make us kiss and makeup whenever we fought as kids? Do you think the magnitude of offence should determine when we offer forgiveness?” Benne asked reasonably and turned when he heard the door open, and Celsie joined him.

“Is that your dad?” Celsie asked, and Benne gave her a nod while wondering why she had returned to the bedroom. She didn’t come to take out the egg, did she?

“I would love to speak with him too,” Celsie said, and Benne relayed the information to Desmond before passing the phone to Celsie.

“Hello, Desmond!” Celsie greeted him after she had taken the phone.

“Hello, Celsie! How are you doing? I’m really sorry about everything…”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who is sorry for stirring things up the way I did,” Celsie cut in.

“It’s a good thing you did. If you didn’t, everyone would have joked it off, and they wouldn’t have realized the magnitude of damage their interference could have caused,” Desmond said, and Celsie nodded in agreement.

“I’m sure they have learned their lessons. Can we all forgive them now and put this behind us?” Celsie asked hopefully.

“You can forgive them if you want to. I have to make sure something like this doesn’t repeat itself. I won’t let my wife or father cause such troubles for my kids,” Desmond said, still blowing hot.

“Evelyn is very sorry. She didn’t expect that he would take things that far when she complained to him. Please forgive her,” Celsie said, and Benne raised a brow, wondering why Celsie was defending his mom and whether she had spoken to her already.

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