~Valeria~
Getting called to my mom's room at ten PM usually meant one of two things: either I was in trouble, or she was about to give me another lecture about "being grateful" for everything Cassian had done for us.
Tonight felt different though. When I knocked and she told me to come in, her voice sounded shaky in a way that made my stomach clench.
"Sit down, sweetheart," she said, patting the edge of her bed.
I perched on the corner, taking in her appearance. Her eyes were red and puffy like she'd been crying, and she kept twisting her wedding ring around her finger, something she only did when she was really stressed.
"Mom? What's wrong?"
She took a deep breath, the kind people take when they're about to say something that's going to change everything.
"I know Cassian's awful,"
