I stood at the doorway, momentarily lost in thought. Footsteps sounded behind me as my mother walked over and gently rested her hand on my shoulder.
“Aria, Clara was sent here by Marielle.”
I didn’t turn around.
She continued, “She said Clara is a great cook, and that if we kept her here to take care of you, you’d like it.”
I remained silent.
After a brief pause, my mother’s voice softened. “In the past… I did have some grievances against her. But after all these years, she seems to have changed quite a bit. Aria, if you’re willing—”
I didn’t let her finish. I turned around and hugged her tightly.
“Mommy, I’m not willing.”
“In my heart, you’re my only mother. You’re the only one I’ll ever acknowledge.”
I held onto her without letting go, and she gently wrapped her arms around me i
