"Come in, dear," Mrs. Ryan said, a gentle smile playing on her lips as Nora stepped into the study. She gestured to the seat across from her, her fingers still tapping lightly on the keyboard.
"Good evening, Mum," Nora greeted, her voice low and soft.
"Good evening, darling. Welcome home." Her mother closed her laptop partway and looked up. "You spent the night at Sophia's yesterday. How was it?" Her eyes searched Nora's face carefully, as though weighing more than the question itself.
Nora's heart gave a nervous thud. Does she know something? she wondered, quickly masking the flicker of doubt with a practiced smile.
"It was fine. Sophia sends her greetings," she replied, maintaining composure.
Mrs. Ryan nodded, returning to her laptop with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
N
