Part 56; I wasn’t running away Mother

He was going to do it for himself, for Lisa and for their future together.

Lisa watched him start the car and drive off.

——

As Canary's car pulled up to the Andersons mansion, he felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him.

It had been two days since he had last seen his mother, Lucy, and he wasn't sure how she would react to his return. The mansion loomed before him, its grand facade illuminated by the soft glow of the evening lights.

Canary took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, his eyes fixed on the front door. He could feel his heart beating slightly faster as he wondered what lay ahead. Would his mother be angry and cold, or would she be willing to listen and forgive?

As he walked towards the door, it swung open and a familiar figure stood before him.

It was Ketra, the family's loyal butler, who greeted him with a nod. "Welcome back, Canary," Ketra said, her voice warm and familiar. "Your mother is in the study. She's been expecting you."

Canary's stomach twisted with anxiety as he followed Ketra into the mansion.

He could feel the weight of his mother's expectations bearing down on him. What would she say to him? Would she forgive him, or would she turn him away?

As they approached the study, Canary could hear the sound of his mother's voice, low and even.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes locking onto his mother's figure behind the desk.

Lucy looked up from the papers she was reading, her eyes narrowing as she took in her son's appearance.

Canary felt a flutter in his chest as he met her gaze, unsure of what to expect. Would she be angry, or would she be willing to listen?

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall. Then, Lucy spoke, her voice cool and detached. "Canary. It's been a while."

Canary felt a surge of emotion at the sound of his mother's voice. He had missed her, despite their differences, and he hoped that they could work through their issues and come out stronger on the other side.

"Mother," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucy's eyes narrowed as she looked at Canary, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Where have you been for the past two days?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled.

Canary took a deep breath, knowing that he had to be honest with his mother, but also not wanting to reveal too much.

"I just needed some time to think, Mother," he said, his voice calm and even.

"I needed to give you some space, and I needed some space for myself."

Lucy leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving Canary's face.

"I was angry with you, yes," she said, her voice still firm.

"But that doesn't mean you had to leave without a word. You should have stayed and faced me, instead of running away."

Canary felt a pang of guilt at his mother's words, but he knew that he had made the right decision.

"I wasn't running away, Mother,"

he said, his voice gentle.

"I just needed to take a step back and think about everything that's been going on. I didn't want to say anything that would make things worse between us."

Lucy's expression softened slightly, and she looked at Canary with a hint of understanding. "I see," she said, her voice a little softer. "I suppose I was angry, and I didn't know how to deal with it."

" When will you ever be serious ?" She asked in disbelief.

" I am so sorry Mom. If I hurt your feelings.." He gasped.

"Tomorrow, the board of governors is meeting to discuss the current situation with the company. And I'm afraid they've decided to appoint Joel as the acting CEO." she declared.

Canary's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?" he asked, feeling a sense of unease.

Lucy's face was grim. "It's because of the video, Canary. You haven't defended yourself against the allegations, and the board feels that it's necessary to take action to protect the company's reputation. Joel is the obvious choice to take over as acting CEO, at least until this situation is resolved."

Canary felt a surge of anger and frustration. He had been trying to stay out of the way and give his mother space, but now it seemed that his inaction had consequences.

He thought about Joel, his mother's younger brother, and how he would react to being appointed as the acting CEO.

Canary shook his head, trying to process the news. "I have no problem with Joel being the acting CEO, Mother," he said, his voice calm.

"He's a capable person and I'm sure he'll do a good job. But I do want to assure you that I will defend myself against these allegations very soon. I won't let my reputation be tarnished by false accusations."

Lucy's expression didn't change, and she looked at Canary with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

"It's too late for that, Canary," she said, her voice firm.

"The damage is already done. And if you hadn't been so reckless with your personal life, none of this would have happened. You're a womanizer, Canary, and it's finally caught up with you."

Canary felt a sting from his mother's words, but he tried to remain calm.

"Mother, I understand that you're upset, but I'm not going to apologize for something I didn't do. I will defend myself and clear my name, and I hope that you'll support me in this."

Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know if I can support you, Canary. If it wasn't for your...indiscretions, everything would be okay. The company would be fine, and you would still be the CEO. But now, because of your actions, we're in this mess. I'm not sure if I can forgive you for that."

After that Lucy walked away leaving Canary there.