Not like it was messy, but this house had always been in top shape, so even a small mess would be noticeable.
I looked around as she placed a mug in front of me, the steam billowing at the top.
I watched it for a beat before turning to her.
“I talked to William.”
I tried not to show any outward reaction to that statement. I was sure William knew of my involvement with the MC by now, and judging by the look in my mom’s eyes, she did too.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. I tilted my head to the side, and when I didn’t say anything, she added, “About your involvement with that…man?”
She wrinkled her nose as if she couldn’t bring herself to say Roman’s name.
“Would you have approved?”
She scoffed. “Of course not.”
I nodded. “That’s why.”
“How could you think it would be appropriate?”
I didn’t say anything. Then, “Because he's a criminal, right?”
She nodded.
“Did you know about Dad?”
Because Roman might be a criminal, but Bennett Hudson wasn’t an innocent man either.
She blinked, and I knew I had shocked her because she wasn't able to hide her expression fast enough.
She turned away from me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I nodded. My mother could deny it all she wanted, but she knew.
She knew about Dad and William. Roman might be a criminal, but at least he didn’t hide who he was behind a high position.
Roman might break the law, but he didn’t use his position to abuse the system.
Dad had always been so protective of the legal system, too.
And I didn’t know how to reconcile that side of him with the side I had just learned about.
“You will not tarnish your father’s name with baseless rumors,” she said, and for the first time in a long time, there was a hint of emotion in her voice.
I laughed, and her eyes widened in surprise, hearing the emptiness in the sound. “You think it’s baseless? There aren’t reporters outside wanting to talk to you about Dad’s criminal activities because Roman removed Dad’s name from the information released to the press. And you knew all about his involvement.”
She didn’t say anything to that, but I saw her hand clench around her mug before she loosened her hold after noticing my attention.
I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to fight with her, but I had to know. “Do you love him?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Daddy. Do you love him? Or did, or whatever.”
“He was my husband. Of course, I cared about him.”
“Mom, I didn’t ask if you cared. Did you love him the way I love Roman?”
