Everly was a bit confused. "Who?" she asked.
"Your mother," Valerio clarified.
Everly flickered her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I don't know," she said, shaking her head.
"So…you don't?" Valerio asked.
Everly slowly nodded his head at her.
"I…guess so. But I don't like her," she explained.
"I see…" Valerio nodded. "Well, it's okay. I believe you will have more thoughts about it once you feel less mad." He smiled at her and gently caressed her hair.
He pulled her closer and warmly hugged her to sleep.
—
Within the sprawling mansion, Layana sat at the table in her room.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror and exhaled with a broken expression on her face.
Maybe if she had been kinder that day instead of cold, she would have ended up on a good note with her daughter.
