"This —" As Beca Foster looked at the image on Arwen’s phone, she felt the blood drain her face. She had thought she could save her a chance for her son, but after seeing what he had done, she didn’t think she could even look in Arwen in the eyes.
Even though Lady Foster said nothing, Arwen could tell how she felt. "Aunt Beca, you have always adored me more than my mother, and I know after seeing this, even you wouldn’t let me tolerate it. I might be the right choice for Ryan, but he isn’t the right one for me."
Beca looked up at Arwen, her eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. As much as she wanted Arwen to become her daughter-in-law, she couldn’t let her suffer at her son’s hands, especially after what he had done behind her back.
Betrayal wasn’t something that could simply be forgiven, and no woman should have to endure it.
"Catrin might have given birth to you, Arwen, but I have always treated you as my own. You are the daughter I never had. I won’t ask you to forgive Ryan –his actions don’t deserve your forgiveness –nor will I ask you to give him another chance. You are right, you deserve better, and my son isn’t the one for you. I am proud that you made the decision to break up with him.
As painful as it is for me to say, he deserved it."
Arwen’s eyes welled with tears, but the reason behind hers was different. Despite Beca being Ryan’s mother, she had always treated Arwen better than her own mother ever had. Although she hadn’t yet told her mother about all this, she knew how the conversation would go. No matter what Arwen said, her mother would find a way to blame her.
Her mother will simply wouldn’t be willing to understand. To her, Arwen was always at fault, and she would risk her daughter’s happiness just to preserve her friendship with her old friend.
Thinking of that, Arwen remembered the other reason she had come. "Aunt Beca, I came not just to tell you about this, but also to make a request."
"Request? You don’t have to make one, you can simply ask me anything, dear?" Beca said, gently cupping her one cheek.
Arwen reached out to hold Beca’s hands and said, "Aunt Beca, you and mama wanted to solidify your friendship by tying me and Ryan together in a marriage. But now that that’s not happening, I hope it won’t change the friendship you two share. Mama really values your friendship and wouldn’t like it if –"
"Arwen, do you really think your Aunt Beca is that petty?" she asked with a sad smile. She might have been petty if Ryan wasn’t at fault, but knowing what her son had done, she couldn’t bring herself to blame on Arwen for holding her self-respect. "Silly child! Your mama and I have a friendship that’s grown stronger over time. Nothing will shake that. But above that friendship, it’s you."
Arwen raised a brow of confusion and Lady Foster nodded. "Yes, dear. When I said I treated you as a daughter, I wasn’t just saying it. Even if I can’t become your mother-in-law, I don’t want to lose you as my goddaughter. So, always remember that Aunt Beca will be here for you. Always.
Come and visit me often."
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