“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.

close ties with the Reeds, and their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having taken care of her ever since her

wasn’t long before Charles and Sonia pulled

the first time Sonia had dropped by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out

her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and she approached the latter with her arms spread

Sonia greeted with

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.

amused by the remark. “No, I haven’t,

“Your face is

now I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane.

Come along, then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her into the

else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask,

me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference,

life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief to save

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

bit into an apple. “That’s what I told

he felt never went away. That being said, he was less

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

lost both 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. Besides, they weren’t actually related

to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

knew that Grace was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s arm like an affectionate

this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly

as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the stove? I think

Grace snapped out of her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed, “Oh, no! My seafood

toward the kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time to keep the chowder

juice over to Sonia and said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you

nodded

Charles a look. “Come and help me out in the

hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed

Grace’s face was dark as she

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255