“It’s not you I’m looking for; I want to speak to Sonia. Is she there with you?” Grace asked on the other line, prompting Charles to glance over at Sonia.

“She’s here,” he answered.

 

“Pass the phone to her.”

Having made a noise of agreement, Charles handed Sonia his phone while saying, “Here, it’s my mom.”

Sonia took the phone over and greeted pleasantly, “Mrs. Lane.”

“Sonia! I’ve missed you so much.” Grace beamed as soon as she heard Sonia’s voice on the other end of the call.

 

Sonia, on the other hand, smiled as well. “I’ve missed you, too, Mrs. Lane.”

“You could always drop by to see me, you know,” Grace pointed out, feigning dejection.

 

“Sorry, Mrs. Lane. I’ve been tied up with tons of stuff recently. I barely have time to breathe,” Sonia winced and said apologetically.

“Well, you could come over for a meal right now if you have the time. I’ll bust out a few of my best recipes for you,” Grace cajoled kindly.

Sonia was just about to say something when Charles—who had been eavesdropping—spoke up instead. “Mom, I’m bringing my darling for seafood.”

Grace, however, was insistent as she countered, “You know how restaurants never run a quality check on their seafood supplies, and it’s not as if they could do better than me when it comes to cooking.”

the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in

happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop by for a

resigned look. “Well, it

and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him

they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their way to

Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having

and Sonia pulled up in front of

by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place at all and rather felt a warm sense

heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and she approached the

greeted with a bright

by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just

I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take a good

amused by the

insisted. “Your face

I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s

of course. Come along, then.” Grace took her by the

villa, Sonia noted that there was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t

the past six years.”

life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept

table in a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia. If you had told us, then we would have stood up for you

he bit into an apple. “That’s what

about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her

Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she

her parents, and the closest thing she had to a family was Grace and the rest of the Lanes. She might have been able to get them to stand up for her throughout her marriage to Toby, but they couldn’t come to her defense all the time.

you?” Grace gently prodded the

she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s arm like an affectionate

gesture and smoothed

sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do

snapped out of her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed,

chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she

was saved, she brought two tall glasses of juice over to Sonia and said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch

nodded with a warm

shot Charles a look. “Come and help me

blinked. He could hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious,

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