The Ex Factor #9

Theresa gave her mother a patronizing look. "Well, let's hear it, Mama. Let's hear you defend Gwen above your own daughter." She stared at Pilar with hurt eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous, Theresa! I would never defend Gwen above you! I know what she is capable of and I know how she has hurt you over the years. How can you say such a thing to me?"

"Then what is it, Mama?" Theresa stood up and began pacing back and forth. "Why are you acting so upset?"

"I'm disappointed, Theresa, in you. Again. I don't believe you're behind the phone call that Gwen received but the things you said to her, about poor Sarah. Why could you not hold your tongue?"

Theresa blew out an exasperated sigh. "She started it." She snapped.

"She started it?" Pilar threw her hands in the air. "Theresa, are you five?" She stared at her daughter in astonishment. Theresa looked back at her, and Pilar sighed as she realized there was absolutely no comprehension of what she was trying to say in Theresa's eyes.

"Come here." She took Theresa firmly by the arm.

"Ow! Mama, what are you..." Theresa had no choice but to go where her mother led, which was across the living room to face a decorative mirror on the wall.
"Look at yourself, Theresa. Look at what you've become. Are you proud of what you see?"

Theresa barely glanced at her own reflection. She tried to turn away but Pilar's fingers hardened into steel and held her fast. "Mama, everything I've done I've done out of love."

"Out of love?" Pilar shook her daughter lightly. "Love? Is that what you call it? When you've gone from being a sweet, good hearted young lady to a vicious, manipulative viper who wants to win at any cost? If you think that's what love does to you, then I've raised you so wrong. May God forgive me."

Theresa's eyes filled with tears. "Why are you saying this to me, Mama? Why are you trying to hurt me?"

"I'm not trying to hurt you, Theresa. I want you to see, really see how far you've fallen. You've become so cold, so cruel. You've schemed shamelessly to get Ethan, for years. You tried to trade one child for another as if children are interchangeable. You bartered your body and your soul with that old devil himself, Alistair Crane. And every chance you get, you use that vicious tongue of yours to slash at Gwen, with no shame."

"But Gwen-" Theresa began to protest again.

"I don't care about Gwen!" Pilar exploded. "You don't need to run over the list of every inexcusable thing that woman has done to you. I know it all-I was there! You can't control what she does, nor can you control what Ethan does. What you can control is your own actions. You can decide to act with dignity and self respect. You can decide to hold your head up and never lower yourself to behave as shamelessly as those who act against you. You can set a shining example for your children to follow. Or you can continue as you are, thinking only of yourself and your feelings. And one day, before you know it, you'll be as desperate, bitter, dried up and degenerate as Rebecca Hotchkiss herself. And I'll pity you, Theresa." Pilar reached out and gently turned Theresa's head until her daughter was looking at herself in the mirror. "Please, mija...make this woman you see in front of you someone to be proud of. Change your ways, now, before it is too late."

Tears were trickling down Theresa's face now and her throat was closed too tightly to speak as she watched Pilar leave the room.

TBC

Coming Soon

Ethan struggles to let go of Theresa

The mystery of Sarah's death deepens.