One Wild Night

Chapter 912  I’m Done With You

The front gates of the sprawling estate swung open, and Mia's parents' car rolled up the driveway, gravel crunching under the tires.

The mansion loomed ahead, its pristine façade belying the turmoil within. As they parked, Maria glanced at her husband, anxiety etched on her face.

"Do you think she's alright?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Robert had told her all about his phone call with an unknown person, and Maria had told her husband that she believed every word of it, since Vanessa had complained to them in the first year of her marriage that he was hitting her, but they had told her to endure and he would change.

She had also pointed out that if Henry could accuse Vanessa of being insane and made him say his own daughter was crazy on television, then she believed there was no end to his cruelty.

"We'll find out soon enough," Robert replied, his jaw set. They stepped out of the car, each with a mixture of hope and dread.

Diana, who had been expecting them since Tom's call, greeted them at the door with a polite smile, masking her curiosity. "You're welcome. Please, come in."

Diana led them to the sitting room, "Please, make yourselves comfortable," Diana said and as she turned to leave, Maria stopped her.

"Please, can you get Vanessa for us?" She asked with a polite smile.

"Vanessa? I thought you knew, she left the house with Mr Rosewood a while ago. He said he was dropping her off at your home since they are getting a divorce," Diana said and Robert and Maria exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of unease.

Having said that, Diana disappeared into the kitchen, where Margaret and Jeff were busy preparing for lunch.

"Margaret, could you prepare some refreshments for the Lawsons in the sitting room?" Diana asked.

Margaret, wiping her hands on a towel, looked up with a nod. "Of course. What would you like me to serve?"

"Some tea and light snacks will be fine," Diana replied. "And Josh, would you mind assisting Margaret with the tray?"

Jeff had been curious ever since Mika informed them that Mia's parents had arrived. "Sure, I'll help," he said, eager to see what was happening.

Together, they prepared a tray with a teapot, cups, and an assortment of finger sandwiches and pastries. As they entered the sitting room, Robert and Maria looked up, their faces reflecting their inner turmoil.

"Tea and some snacks. Please, help yourselves." Diana said, as they set the tray down on the coffee table.

Neither of Mia's parents were interested in the refreshments, so they stayed put as they waited patiently for Henry to return with their daughter.

Just as they began lose their patience, the front door opened. Henry and Mia walked in, while Mia's expression was tensed, Henry's face tightened with irritation.

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?" Mia asked as her parents rose from their seat and her mother rushed to her side.

Diana, feigning surprise, stepped forward. "I'm curious about the same thing. Why are Vanessa's parents here, Henry? I thought you were dropping her off at their house. Did you change your mind about the divorce? Or did they come here to ask you to change your mind? You promised me, Henry."

Maria and Robert's heads snapped towards Diana, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. "Divorce? Who's getting divorced?" Maria demanded, looking from Diana to Henry and Mia.

Mia lowered her head, unable to meet her parents' gaze. Henry shot Diana a disapproving look. "Diana, this is not your concern. Please, excuse us."

As Diana left, she muttered under her breath, "I hope you take your daughter with you. I have no intention to keep sharing Henry with her." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Maria and Robert turned to Henry, their faces full of questions. "What is going on here?" Robert asked, his voice stern. "We want an explanation."

Henry forced a smile, trying to regain control of the situation. "It's just a misunderstanding. There's no need to worry."

Robert's eyes narrowed. "We want to hear from our daughter. What is happening, Vanessa?" He asked, surprising Mia, who couldn't believe her father had just asked her opinion.

Mia remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor as she made a show of trembling so that both Henry and her parents will believe she was terrified.

Her mother reached out, taking her hand. "Vanessa, come with me, let's talk in private while your father speaks with Henry."

Henry stepped forward, his smile fading. "There's no need for that. Everything is fine and we can all talk here."

"You both should go inside while I have a word with Henry," Robert said, his voice firm.

As Mia made to leave with her mother, Henry grabbed her hand and his grip on her tightened as he smiled at her, warning her with his eyes not to defy him.

Mia gave him a nod and followed her mother inside to her bedroom. Her mother glanced at the cameras mounted on different corners of the ceiling. "I trust there are no cameras in the bathroom. Let's go into the bathroom," she whispered.

Mia followed her mother into the bathroom, her heart pounding as she wondered what was going on and why her parents were acting so out of character and drying Henry.

Inside the bathroom, Maria turned to her daughter, her eyes filled with concern. "I want to see your back. Show me your back."

Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "Why do you want to see my back?"

"Just show me. Please," her mother insisted, her voice trembling with emotion.

Reluctantly, Mia turned around and lifted her shirt, revealing the scars that marred her skin. Margaret let out a horrified gasp, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, Vanessa, why didn't you tell us?" She asked, and Mia turned to face her mother, her eyes gleaming with anger.

"Why didn't I tell you? What did you do when I told you he hit me? What did you do when I told you he whipped my back until I bled and miscarried my baby? What would you have done?" She asked harshly.

Maria shook her head, her sobs growing louder. "We had no idea it got this bad.  When you stopped coming to complain I assumed it was because he stopped. How did this happen? How did you meet Henry? Why did he marry you?"

"Why are you asking me that when you know very well…"

"The real reason, Vanessa. We need to know the real reason why he wanted to marry you," her mother cut in.

Mia hesitated, realizing that her parents might have been reached by Tom and Harry, hence the change in their behavior. She wondered what they must have told them.

Mia went on to tell her mom how she had met Henry and why Henry had married her and was treating her that way.

As she spoke, her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Vanessa. We had no idea. We should have been there for you. We should have seen the signs. I should have been a better mother." her mother wept.

As much as Mia appreciated this, she didn't have it in her to comfort her mother not when she still had a lot of resentment towards her parents.

Maria wiped her tears, her resolve hardening. "Is it true that Henry wants a divorce?"

Mia nodded. "Yes. He had me sign the papers this morning. His mistress, Diana, is pregnant," Mia revealed even though she knew Diana's pregnancy wasn't real.

Maria's eyes widened in shock. "That... that monster."

Mia nodded, her voice shaking. "He took me out saying he was going to drop me off at the house but when he got a call from Dad, he brought me back. I have no idea what he is up to."

Maria took her daughter's hand, her eyes blazing with determination. "We've had enough. You're coming home with us."

"Mom, no. I don't think…"

"Come with me," her mother cut her off, taking her hand and leading her away.

They left the bathroom and rejoined Robert and Henry in the living room. Maria stood tall, her voice firm as she faced both her husband and Henry. "Vanessa is coming home with us."

Henry's eyes narrowed as he rose. "You can't take her with you. She's my wife."

Robert rose and stepped in front of his wife and daughter, "Not anymore. Vanessa is coming home with us, and you have no say in the matter," Robert said, his voice cold.

Seeing her parents being unusually brave, Mia felt a surge of courage. "You were going to drop me off at home, weren't you? I want to leave with my parents. I've signed the divorce papers, so there is no reason for me to remain here."

"SHUT IT!" Henry roared at her, causing Margaret who was eavesdropping with Mika and Jeff to flinch.

"You both should go to the car," Robert said to his wife and daughter.

Now that he was seeing Henry's true color, he had no doubt that all that he had been told about him was true. He was going to look deeper into the file he received, and God help Henry if he found out that he had a hand in the fall of his company.

Henry's face twisted with rage as Vanessa headed for the door with her mother. "If you take her, I'll cut you off. My company will no longer do business with yours and I'm sure you know what that means."

Robert met his gaze, unflinching. "Do as you wish. I won't sacrifice my daughter's happiness for business anymore."

Henry's fury erupted. "Vanessa come back here!" He ordered, and she stopped and met his gaze.

"No, Henry. I'm done with you. Last time I faked my death to leave, but this time I'm walking out through the door." With that, she turned and walked out of the house, her parents following close behind.

Seeing how his plan had been ruined, Henry's rage boiled over, and he began to destroy everything in the living room, throwing vases and overturning furniture.

Diana, hearing the commotion, stepped out of her room. "Henry, stop!" she cried, trying to calm him down.

Henry turned on her, his eyes wild. "This is all your fault!" He roared as he stepped towards her.

Seeing how furious he was, Diana ran back into the bedroom for shelter, locking the door behind her, and deciding to wait for his rage to pass.

As she shut the door behind her, she laughed silently, happy to see Henry feeling so frustrated.

Diana wasn't the only one who was happy. Jeff had a smirk on his face too as he stepped out of the house and went outside to go watch Mia leave with her parents.

Jeff had no idea what Tom and Harry had done, but he felt glad that Mia had such capable people like them in her corner, and he was glad that he had trusted them and stayed out.

 Most importantly, he was proud of Mia for standing up for herself the way she had done. He looked forward to how they were going to wrap up this whole thing.

Outside, Mia climbed into the car with her parents, feeling a mixture of relief and fear. Relief because she was leaving Henry's house, and fear because she was leaving Jeff behind.

As they drove away, she looked back at the house and saw Jeff standing there and watching them leave.

Her mother took her hand. "We'll get through this, sweetheart. I promise."

"Don't worry about him. We won't let him lay his hands on you ever again, and I will make him pay for all he has done," her father promised too.

Vanessa nodded, not because she had any trust in them or believed that this was the end of her encounter with Henry, but because she trusted Tom and Harry. She knew that this was far from over, but for now, she wasn't under his roof, and that was all that mattered most to her.