Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Zina was momentarily caught off guard, not realizing Yvonne was speaking to her. She turned her head a bit absentmindedly and met the woman’s slightly bewildered gaze, pressing her lips together without answering right away.
After a few seconds, Zina let out a soft sigh. “I know you’re just trying to make me feel at home here, Mrs. Lambert. Honestly, the things that happened before don’t matter to me anymore.
“As long as I can live well now, that’s enough. So, whatever happens with Lydia isn’t really important to me anymore.”
“Zina,” Yvonne said softly, looking up. The daughter who looked the most like her was right in front of her, and for a split second, it was like she was staring at a reflection of her younger self.
But for some reason, there was a dull ache in her chest–a heaviness she couldn’t quite name.
Yvonne fell silent again.
After what felt like forever, Yvonne realized her legs were starting to go numb. She shook her head slightly, trying to clear the tangled thoughts from her mind.
“Zina,” she said, “when your acknowledgment banquet comes, I’ll have a gift ready for you.”
“That’s not necessary, Mrs. Lambert.” Zina quickly shook her head, but she didn’t really know what else to say. ‘I didn’t even want this acknowledgment banquet in the first place,‘ she thought.
But when she looked up and met Yvonne’s eyes that looked like they might shatter, Zina let out a barely audible sigh, hiding the helplessness in her own gaze.
“Mrs. Lambert…” Zina said softly.
“Zina,” Yvonne’s voice trembled, “after all this time, are you still not willing to call me ‘Mom‘?”
Yvonne couldn’t hold back her emotions anymore. She just stared at Zina, looking like she might burst into tears at any second.
Zina went completely silent, not knowing how to respond. She just lowered her head, not saying a single
word.
After a few seconds, Yvonne nodded.
“I get it. It’s alright,” she said softly. “You’ll always be my daughter. I’ll wait for you, whenever you’re ready…”
“Thank you,” Zina said quietly, her lips pressed together, her eyes unreadable.
Yvonne left the room, disappointment written all over her face, but she didn’t say another word.
In an instant, Zina was the only one left in the empty room. Surrounded by the lonely silence, she found herself at a complete loss, not even sure what she was supposed to say or feel.
11:27 Sun, Sep 7
Chapter 96
