Page 62 of A Castle in the Sky: Fern & Connor
"Move," Kayla snapped. "You little bitch, turning my boy against me. I don't know what you've been filling his head with, but—"
Fern blocked the doorway with her body, her voice cold as ice. "Get off my property."
Kayla's jaw dropped. "You dare—"
Heavy, rapid footsteps thundered down the staircase as Connor came barrelling down, packing tape still stuck to one forearm. "What are you doing here?"
His voice was the quiet that warned of the storm to come.
Kayla opened her mouth, ready to unleash her usual blend of shrill and wounded martyrdom, but something in Connor's expression made her swallow the words.
"You're not allowed near Coral," he said, each word slow and precise. "Social services were very clear. You don't step inside this house. You're not even worthy of saying her name."
Kayla gaped at him before finding her tongue. "She can barely speak—what does she matter? You should be looking after your real son. Jacob needs—"
"My real—" Connor's eyelids ticked once. "Jacob is not my son. Don't you ever say something like that again."
Kayla pushed on, desperation entering her voice. "How could you do this to Matilda after everything she's suffered? You owe her. You oweus."
"No," Connor said. "No, Mother."
It was the first time he'd ever called her that instead of 'mum'.
Kayla blinked, thrown.
"I don't owe her," he continued, stepping closer, standing protectively in front of Fern. "Youowe her.Youowe her for destroying her family, not me."
Her face drained of colour, leaving it chalky white. "Connor—"
"You had an affair with her father while you were married. That's on you, not me. That just makes you a shitty human being."
She reeled back as though struck.
"I was never good enough for you," Connor went on, voice still measured, but frighteningly calm and accepting. "And I finally realized I am alright with that. You always said I was too stupid to make anything of myself. But then, when I did succeed, suddenly I owed you for it." He shook his head, a bitter, exhausted exhale escaping him. "I ran away to get away from you and Matilda. Because between the two of you, you'd have ruined my life."
Kayla's lips parted, trembling. "Connor, please—"
"No."
He didn't soften. His voice retained the same monotone, as if talking to a stranger.
"Do you know who believed in me when I was nothing?" he asked, looking at Fern. "Fern did."
Fern felt her breath catch. She struggled to keep her expression impassive.
"I owe her so much. She believed I could build something. Even though I didn't become a doctor or some big-shot manager like you wanted me to. She stood by me when I had no one. She made me believe a woman could be kind, and brilliant, and strong—not selfish, not cruel. I had only known women like that until she came into my life. Even now, when I don't deserve it, she still has my back."
His voice was like gravel, but he didn't stop. He was looking at Fern with a shine in his eyes. "And I wish I had given her even a fraction of what she gave me. Her trust, her confidence in me. Instead, I let the ghosts of my past ruin everything. My stupidity almost cost me my daughter, and I will never forgive myself for trusting you with her."
He looked back at Kayla, the softness gone. "You need to leave now. And you're not coming back."
A rare vulnerable expression crossed her eyes as her mouth trembled. "I'm still your mother."
He didn't blink. "If you are on your deathbed," he said softly, "don't call me."
Kayla staggered back a step.
"Coral is your granddaughter. You should have loved her. Instead, you chose to put her in danger. And I can never forgive that."
