That was why Ichika had offered to take care of Evalie while I was away. She and Ken had promised to raise her as their own, to love her, to make sure she never felt alone.
I knew Evalie would be in the best hands.
But that didn’t stop the guilt from eating me alive.
A week ago, I had sat in Ichika’s office, my hands clenched tightly together in my lap.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ichika, sitting across from me, leaned forward. “Amber, we’ve talked about this.”
“I know, but—” I swallowed hard. “She’s my baby. What kind of mother just… leaves?”
Ichika’s expression softened. “A mother who wants the best for her child. A mother who is willing to make sacrifices so her daughter can have a better life.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes.
