A Ruling Passion – Chapter 1649

Mary’s rant ended up showing the last piece of the puzzle in Arianne’s head.

“She’s trying to carve a unique place for herself in Mark’s life!” she proclaimed. “She wants to prove that only she can provide unique contributions to him, that she alone occupies a status and a niche that no one else in Mark’s circle can fill. That’s why she keeps trying to dictate his life. All of the things she experienced in her life forced her into despair that she ended up channeling her self-worth and reason to live into the child she was denied, thus creating and fomenting an obsession in her mind. Even if we let her do whatever she wants, it won’t sate her. In fact, it’ll only encourage her to up the ante, because what we’re dealing with isn’t just any kind of motherly impulse, it’s a hunger she had suffered for decades, and it’s impossible to fill."

“What is it that she really wants? It’s to make the whole world acknowledge that Mark is her son, and as her son, he must obey her every wish as his mother without questions. She sees Mark as a child who needs his mother to hold his hand and tell him what to do... Perhaps a craving that had grown from her never being there during Mark’s childhood,” she finished.

In truth, it did not matter what her reasons might be, as everything Shelly had been doing was beyond the pale, and Mark was earnestly revolted by it all. Yet, in the midst of his repulsion and disgust, there was, somehow, a weak, yet undeniable sense of guilt, from where and what it stemmed from, Mark was unsure. All he knew was that every time he clashed with Shelly, that guilt would surface and haunt him.

Ultimately, it might have been Mark’s soft-heartedness that was tormenting him. He pitied Shelly, and that pity became a double-edged sword.