At the hotel, Tanya was having her chicken noodle soup when she saw Hanson approaching. A gentle smile graced her lips, "Hanson, weren't you supposed to visit Jessica today?" "I just cfrom the Stirling Mansion," Hanson murmured, his voice low.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtTanya glanced at him, her gaze holding a trace of melancholy, "Jessica won't agree to have Skyler recognized by the Stirling family?" Hanson sank into the couch, "Tanya, do you remember how Skyler used to refuse to go out and play every the had a break? He'd cry, begging to stay in, claiming there were bullies outside." His tone was intentionally casual as if the question was an afterthought.
A shadow flitted across Tanya's eyes as she asked, "Why bring this up all of a sudden?" Hanson said, "Skyler mentioned it again today, out of the blue. He doesn’t want to go back to Eastwood Heights because he's afraid of being bullied by someone named Geoffrey. Have you ever taken him to meet someone by that name?" A twitch ran across Tanya's face.
"Hanson, what's gotten into you? You know Skyler's condition, and Geoffrey is a figment of his imagination, another personality he's conjured. He must've skipped his medication and is relapsing." "I used to think the same, but Geoffrey messaged Skyler from an international burner phone," Hanson showed her the text message.
Shock colored Tanya's expression as she leaped from the couch.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"This can't be right. Could someone have learned about Skyler's illness and is impersonating Geoffrey to scare him?" Hanson's gaze was unyielding, "Tanya, don't you find it odd? Ever since Skyler cto Elysium, he's been getting more and more stable, and his personality's brighter, and more confident. Whenever he used to go out with you, he'd cback acting all strange, hiding in his room, plagued by nightmares. What exactly did you do to him?" Tanya inhaled sharply, "What could | have possibly done to him? He's my son. Would | hurt him?" "How many sons do you have?" Hanson pressed.
Raising her voice slightly, Tanya retorted, "Just one, Skyler. Are you suggesting I've hidden another child away? Is this nonsense coming from Jessica? If she doesn't want Skyler to rejoin the Stirling family, she could've just said so, instead of concocting these absurd tales to slander me." "Skyler toldhimself. Jessica has nothing to do with it." "Skyler is sick, and his mind is fragmented. You can't take his words at face value," Tanya's voice grew agitated.
Hanson frowned, "Tanya, you don't sound like a mother. No mother talks about her son like that. Every mother defends her child, but you seem eager for others to know he's unwell.
"No wonder Skyler never warmed to you, feared you. I'm glad | brought him to Elysium, where he can live like a normal person. You don't have to worry about Skyler anymore, and he's a Stirling, and Jessica will take care of him. She'll do a better job than you ever did." Tears welled up in Tanya's eyes as she started to sob.
"Skyler is my son, and how could | not want the best for him? When | first realized something was wrong, | desperately tried to cover it up, terrified of you and your wife finding out. Do you have any idea how terrifying he becomes as his alter ego? Like a wild horse gone rogue, capable of hurting anyone at any moment." "Have you forgotten all those pets he killed? | saw him decapitate those animals, skin them piece by piece, dismember them. The first t| saw it, | was petrified, and clueless about what to do. Every outing was a covert mission to find him help. Do you think | wanted everyone to know he was ill? | was protecting you and everyone else from harm."