“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.”

Sonia interjected, “Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in a bit!”

“Oh, please, no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop by for a meal.

When the call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the seafood restaurant a miss.”

“It’s fine; there’s always next time, anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him and led him toward the car.

After they made their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their way to the Lane Residence.

with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having taken care

Sonia pulled up in front of

as

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

Lane,” Sonia greeted with a

women embraced, Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me,

believe me when I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take a good look at you!” She clasped Sonia’s hands in

amused by the remark. “No, I

Grace insisted. “Your face is

my baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia

along, then.” Grace took her by the hand

one else at home but them,

Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she had been wanting to know all

began to detail the life she had had with the

the story. She slapped the edge of the coffee 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 and

an apple.

he felt never went away. That being said, he

Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want

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. Besides, they

with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger

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

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with

curiously. “Mom, what do

and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet

in the pot,

juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up a

Mrs. Lane.” Sonia nodded with

a look. “Come and help me out

as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom? What could

you coming or not?” Grace’s face was dark

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