Incompetent son

"What are you doing over here, Mom, at this time?" Lucian questioned once he opened the door.

At seven in the morning, Lucian had just woken up. Running his hand through his messy hair, he attempted to tame them. Because of staying up last night, signs of exhaustion was visible on his face.

Alicia shook her head in disapproval as she entered. She scrunched up her nose at his messy abode, and the empty bottle of beers caused her expression to worsen.

"When will you grow up, Lucian?" Alicia questioned.

"I think I grew up pretty well despite having you as my mother," Lucian shot back.

This made Alicia glare at her son and voice out, "I have no time to argue with you. Now, get dressed. We will be heading outside."

"Out? Why?" Lucian raised his eyebrow.

"Of course to make the selections for your engagement banquet. It needs to be grand and perfect," Alicia voiced out.

Lucian pressed on his forehead.

"Why are you going on about that, Mom? I believe I can't make the matter anymore clearer," Lucian said, "I am not going to get engaged to Valerie."

He then added, "I even made this clear to her. Why is she still pushing for this? How annoying!"

"It's funny how you assume you have a say in this."

"Mom, seriously, this engagement and whatnot, I am not going to turn up for it. You can do whatever you want," Lucian expressed, "Moreover, I am not even thirty yet. What kind of ancient day views do you have?"

"I am lonely and want a grandchild to play with," Alicia stated uncompromisingly.

"If that's what you want, there is no need for engagement or Valerie. Just wait for ten months, and I will give you a grandchild."

Alicia looked at her son in disbelief.

"You are asking for a beating now. Haven't you messed enough with those vulgar women? Now, you want them to bear you an illegitimate child? I am telling you I will disown you for having these messy relationships."

Lucian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His mother was the one desperate for a child.

"And I have already given you an ultimatum before. If you failed to date someone within a year, you will get engaged according to my choice," Alicia stated.

"I did date," Lucian said before lowering his voice and commenting, "Although we broke up."

"And after that, she stalked you, threatened to kill herself, and then attacked you," His mother mockingly added.

"Well, that was due to her grief. It must have been hard for her to break up with me. I do understand her sentiments. In the end, she regretted it and apologized sincerely, promising to never show up in front of me. And that's what she did."

Alicia rolled her eyes and mumbled, "That's what you know."

"This isn't the first time you have been attacked by a woman. After all this happening, I can't believe you still hang around with women. Look at Valerie. She is so calm and mature. Don't you think she is safer?"

Valerie was harmful to his mental state, and that's worse.

"I suppose so," Lucian responded. There was no use carrying on this conversation with his mother. Alicia would resort to emotional blackmail, and if that didn't work, she would threaten him using his dark past.

Because of that, he needed another way.

Lucian sighed and placed his palm on his mother's shoulder.

"Mom, you must have worried a lot because of me. Sorry for being such an incompetent son. I wish I was better as well. For the engagement, I will do as you say," Lucian expressed.

Alicia stared at her son suspiciously.

"As long as you know that," she hesitantly said.