A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 1231

Every guest was staring at Cordy, convinced that she was going to declare her love for Jay because her affection for him was all too visible.

And given Zoe's personality, she would want nothing less than to announce it to the whole world.

And yet, when she began, she said, "There are two people I want to thank. The first is Clara Gooding, my mother."

Clara was sitting below stage, her body obviously stiffening when Zoe suddenly mentioned her.

She was holding Yelena in her arms after she got off the stage.

"Yes, she's my mother," Zoe said. "But I never called her that, because there was a time I hated her. If not for her, I wouldn't have gone through the worst moment of my life-1 mean, who would've thought that an heiress of the great Levine family would turn out to be just a maid's daughter?"

Her words were calm, but everyone could empathize with her pain and despair of the time.

did not want to acknowledge her. I really wanted to

red, her eyes

against her, but Zoe was too kind and ultimately

done that back then. I'd regret it for the

the one who had

the heat of

end, she's the best mother in this world who has given me all her love in a way that no

was the first time Zoe called her that, and Clara's tears

little hands to dry her tears. "It's

she done to deserve

have gone on living our separate lives. I know you've been quietly sacrificing yourself for all our sake, telling me to rest while Yelena was sick while you stayed overnight with her, saying that you're not tired

to bridge the gap between us, but in the end, I chose to walk away because it's what you're obliged to do, to atone for the years I was left

her tears, offering her