CHAPTER 55: THE WAY SHE TREATS HER SON

Rian's POV: When Francine finally took Dino, Alex and I were left sitting in the living room while watching his favorite Spongebob Squarepants series in cartoon network. My head is on his lap and his fingers were brushing my hair. "Do you think we can try to plead a petition for Dino's full custody?" He looked down at me open-mouthed when I opened the 'petition' topic. Maybe he doesn't expect this question would exactly come out from me. Actually, I started to think this matter when I heard Dino's little confession about how his mother is treating him. My heart is melting every time I imagined those crazy things that Francine is doing to his own son. "Baby, it's a huge step in our relationship. Are you sure of that? I can't even remember the day of our wedding, how did I get involved again with Francine. And how did we get a child. I don't want you to get stressed and tired, your pregnant." "Alex..." "And I don't even know how to explain myself to you, once my memory came back." "I know, hubby. But Dino is a different thing. Yes, he's your son with Francine, but he doesn't have any mistake or fault with it. He's purely innocent. And if he's mother can't give him love and mother's care, well.. he still has you. He still have us." He smiled at me and I get up to see both of his eyes shines in amusement. "Thank you, baby, for supporting me and accepting Dino." "Maybe because the amount of love I have for you is greater than the amount of your mistakes." He give me a toe-curling kiss after that. "I love you." he said cupping my left cheek while his other hand is holding my right hand. "I love you, too." I smiled at him. "And hubby, I didn't say I can't accept the child. The thing I can't accept was how the way you made him and how you ended up in bed with his mother. But as I told you, your son is an exemption of your mistakes. He doesn't even know why his parents have different houses and why they're living separately." He lifted me up by my waist and put me into his lap, while his two arms encircled around my waist. "But as of now, we both know we can't file any petition in court because of my condition." "Yeah, I forgot." I just hugged him on his neck. "But.. can't you do something just to approve our petition? You know what I mean." His chest vibrates with his laugh. "Baby, I can. But I won't." I looked at him in his eyes. "But why?" "Rian, I don't want to do the same mistakes as before, I can't even remember what happened. I don't want these things to get more complicated in the end. But don't worry, we will try our best to get the full custody from her." he said sniffing my hair. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Three months has passed but Alex condition's remained unchanged, except for those nightmares that he suffered during the first two months. We asked about it from his previous doctor and he said it's just normal for patients who came from comas. We also tried to submit a petition for Dino's full custody, we even used Alex's wealth status to make it our reason to grant the petition. But Francine's camp used his condition and the court declined our pleas. But we didn't agree to put the money directly into her account, instead we opened Dino a junior savings account and Alex's office started to transfer his financial support every end of the month. And that's when I noticed the sudden changes in her behavior. She started becoming a bitch with me and slowly revealing her color. There was one day when I brought Dino at the supermarket to buy some ingredients for my recipe for dinner, we saw her sitting in the living room when we go back. Maybe she's probably waiting on us based on the scowl written on her face. But when Dino noticed his mother, he grabbed my hand and hide behind me. It's a very unusual thing to see a little boy looks so frightened with the sight of his own mother. "Dino, let's go!" she glared at him as she stand and tried to pull his hand from my grip, but he swatted her hand and he wrapped it around my legs. "Mama, can I stay here with Daddy and Aunt Rian?" Dino asked her with an obvious look of nervousness in his face. "No! We're going home right now!" but she just snapped at him and forcefully take his hand. "Mama please, I'll do whatever you want me to do----" "Shut up! Didn't you hear what I said? No, we're going home!" "Aunt Rian, help me please.." my heart melt when he called me. His eyes were also pleading. "I am your mother, you should listen to me! You're a brat!" And with that, I can't help not interrupt. "Hey, don't call your son that name." "And why? This is my son and I am his mother, so I can call him whatever the name I want to call him!" she snapped at me. "But he's still a kid, he doesn't even know what's the meaning of that word." She chuckled sarcastically. "Who are you to tell me what I'm going to do or not? And what do you know about raising a kid? You're still not a mother yet!" she said glaring at me. I was taken aback with her last word. "And do not interfere with us! You already manipulated Alex's mind not to add the amount he's been putting in Dino's account!" So that was the reason why she's being a bitch to me lately. Alex and I talked about that matter the last time she asked him to add a higher amount he's putting in Dino's account. But we both agreed that we need to base it on his needs and not what his mother needs. "And now, you're also going to play as a loving 'stepmother' to my child? What are you planning to do next... take my son away from me?" her eyes were throwing daggers on me. "That's not true! I'm just being kind to your son. And regarding the financial support that Alex is giving to your son, it's his decision, not mine! And whatever you may call it, manipulation or interference.. well just to tell you honestly, I have all the rights in all his assets and decisions because I am his wife!" "Huh! Yeah, you are his wife!" she snort narrowing her eyes on me. "Let's go, Dino!" and she suddenly pulled Dino's arm much to the child's surprise, he almost stumbled on the floor. "Oh my God, Francine! Be careful!" my heart almost jumped out inside my chest and I glared at her. "Mama please, let me stay here just for one day.." "No! We're going home right now, and that's final!" "Aunt Rian, help me, please. I don't want to go home.." "I'm sorry Dino, but you have to." I said following them to the front door. "Aunt Rian please, I'll be a good boy I promise. I won't ask you to buy me toys the next time we go to the mall, and I won't ask you to buy me some ice cream.. just help me please.." he said in tears before Francine lifted him. And because I can no longer watch the heart-melting scene in front of me, I turned around and made my way to the kitchen. How I wish Alex could see this and do something to take Dino from his mother. Yes, she's the real mother but the way she treats her son, it's very unlikely. And also the way Dino reacts whenever he sees her, he looks so afraid and scared. And it's not usual for a four years old kid to behave like that, especially with his own mother.