Chapter 11: Unveiling

Lucien stood by the living room window, his heart pounding in his chest, as he watched his father and stepmother make their way up the path towards the house. Their smiles were radiant, their hands intertwined with a blissful happiness from their honeymoon. Lucien frowned a little: he knew that the idyllic scene was about to be shattered.

His stepbrother, Blaise, had returned against his own mother's wishes. Against his entire family's wishes, it would seem. But Lucien had convinced Troy to allow Blaise to stay and surprisingly, it worked. Blaise kept to himself and really only spent time with Lucien, or was by himself. If only Marie knew how well-behaved Blaise was being!

Lucien and Troy had discussed how they might reveal Blaise's presence, knowing it would anger Marie to find him in the house. Eventually they decided it best to just be direct and honest about what had happened. They knew Marie was going to overreact, but in Troy's estimation, given a few days after the initial shock, she might cool down - especially since Blaise seemed to be keeping to himself. They decided, though, that it was best if Blaise wasn't there when they told her.

The front door swung open, and Lucien's parents entered, their faces flushed with joy. Maisy, eager to make her mother as comfortable as possible, bustled into the room, carrying a tray with tea and cookies to welcome them back.

"Maisy, how delightful!" Marie said, easing into a chair. Father followed suit, and helped himself to a cookie. "Such a good girl, you always know just what to do. So well-mannered!"

Troy and Lucien approached their parents, their faces masked with forced smiles. Troy took the initiative. "Welcome back, Mother, Father," he greeted, his voice a little stiff. "How was your honeymoon? We've missed you."

Their parents exchanged a smile, their eyes sparkling with memories of their time away. "It was extraordinary," Lucien's father sighed. "The vineyards were so beautiful, and the weather was perfect every day. Don't I look tanned from all the time at the beach? I almost didn't want to come back."

Lucien's mother nodded, her gaze lingering on Troy. She had always been perceptive, able to sense when something was amiss. "What's troubling you, Troy?" she asked. "There's something you're not telling me."

Troy's shoulders tensed. "Mother," he began, his voice wavering slightly, "there's something important we need to tell you. It's about Blaise."

"Blaise?"

Troy nodded. Lucien could see he was getting nervous, and felt bad. After all, Lucien was the one who put him up to this. Troy gulped, and continued. "He is back and staying at the house."

Marie stared at him with her mouth open for a minute, before she found her words. "I thought I made it clear that he was not welcome here. How could you allow him back into our home?"

Troy winced under his mother's piercing gaze. "Blaise... he came back on his own, Uncle Raphael wasn't there," he continued. "We didn't know what to do, Mother. He was alone and needed a place to stay."

Anger flickered in their mother's eyes. "Troy, he ended up alone for a reason," she seethed. "He cannot be trusted. He disobeyed my wishes and has the audacity to return as if nothing happened. This will not go unpunished."

Troy, sensing the mounting anger in their mother, hurriedly stepped forward, reaching a hand out as if to comfort her. "Mother, please," he implored, his words flowing in rapid succession. "Blaise has nowhere else to go. We couldn't abandon him when he needed us the most. He's been good! He just keeps to himself."

Their mother's face flushed with indignation. "He picked his damned uncle Raphael; he can go crawling back to him!" she spat. "Blaise made his choices, and he must face the consequences."

Lucien, recognizing the need to diffuse the escalating tension, stepped closer. "Marie, don't be too angry with Troy. I'm the one who convinced Troy to let him stay." Marie raised an eyebrow at Lucien, livid. Before she could speak, Lucien continued. "I understand your frustration," he began, his words carefully chosen. "But Blaise being with Raphael is not the solution. From all that I've heard, Raphael has been nothing but a bad influence on him. Blaise needs a chance to find his own path, away from people who would drag him down."

"Blaise's actions have brought shame upon this household. We cannot simply ignore that."

"Please, Marie, he is still so young. What if he can still turn his life around?"

"If he can do that, he can do it by himself. He needs to face the consequences of his bad decisions!"

Lucien didn't know what to say. The room was silent for a moment, but then a sound reached their ears. All heads turned toward the entrance to the hall, where Blaise stood, arms crossed, his expression defiant.

Dammit! He wasn't supposed to be here! Why was he doing this to himself? Lucien began walking toward Blaise, but Blaise didn't spare him a glance.

Blaise, unable to contain his anger at his mother any longer, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "Consequences?" he scoffed, his voice filled with bitterness. "You've always been so quick to judge, Mother. But have you ever stopped to think about why I did what I did?"

His mother's gaze turned icy, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Why? Enlighten me, Blaise. Give me one good reason why you thought it was acceptable to bring shame upon this family!"

Blaise's voice dripped with sarcasm as he retorted, "Shame? Is that what this family is so concerned about? Well, excuse me for not living up to your standards! Maybe you should have thought more carefully about the people you brought home."

Their mother's eyes narrowed. "You were given everything, Blaise. Opportunities, love, a chance to make something of yourself. And yet, you squandered it all with your reckless behavior. By involving yourself with Raphael. That man has been nothing but trouble, and you know it."

Blaise glared at his mother. "At least Raphael accepts me," he spat, his voice filled with defiance. "Unlike you, who hates me no matter what I do. Well, I refuse to live a life that's not mine."

Their mother's face flushed with anger. "You are my son, Blaise. You will do as I say," she declared. "You're the one who has come crawling back to me, so whatever happens next will be on my terms!"

Blaise's eyes shone with defiance. "I don't need your terms, Mother."

"Then leave!"

As the tension in the room thickened, Lucien's father stepped forward. "Enough," he interjected, his words cutting through the heated exchange. "We need time to think about this, and we need to all cool down a bit. Blaise, why did you come here?"

Blaise's eyes stayed fixed on his mother, as if she might jump up and start chasing him any moment. "I just needed a place to stay. I didn't know where else to go. I guess I miscalculated."

Father nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Blaise, I understand you need a place to stay for a while. But this is Marie's house, and now mine as well. When you're here, you're to behave as a guest. Marie has the final say in whether or not you're allowed to remain at this house, so you need to mind your manners."

Marie was continuing to glare at Blaise. Lucien watched the interaction, a pang of disappointment tugging at his heart. Why hadn't Blaise just stayed in his own room, and let him and Troy handle it? He was so sure the two of them could've convinced Marie to soften her heart toward her son. But now, with his mother's anger flaring, the chances of Blaise staying seemed to dwindle. And it really was Blaise's fault this time. He should have been much more deferential since he was making such a big request of his mother.

Their mother, unable to contain her emotions any longer, erupted in a fit of rage. "He hasn't changed! Blaise will always be the same, manipulating and causing chaos wherever he goes!" she cried, pushing her tea away from her. "He was a mistake!"

Blaise's face contorted with a mixture of anger and hurt. He took a step forward, toward Marie. "A mistake? I'm your son, and I deserve to be able to stay in my own room."

Their mother's eyes widened, and she raised her eyebrows very high on her forehead. "After all the trouble you've caused? I won't allow it!" she shouted.

Blaise clenched his jaw and stared at his mother. He must have had enough of her yelling, for he turned on his heel, and began heading straight for the exit. "Fine, if that's how you see me, I'll save you the trouble," he snapped, his voice filled with resentment. "I'm done trying to win your approval. I'm leaving."

With those words, Blaise stormed out of the house, his steps heavy with frustration and pain.

Lucien offered his father a quick "excuse me," then, without thinking, set off after Blaise.