Even though I was 100% sure that Alex wouldn't do anything drastic, I couldn't help but wonder—what exactly was he up to?
By evening, Mom finally arrived. Seeing the freshly cleaned house, she smiled. "Serena, you really tidied up the place well."
"It was Lila who helped me," I said, pointing at her. "She did a lot for me today."
"Thank you, Lila," Mom said gratefully. "You're such a good girl."
Lila smiled shyly. "Madam Burke, you're too polite. Serena is my best friend—of course, I should help her."
That night, we had a simple dinner together, and then Lila took her leave.
Mom sat on the couch, rubbing her hands uneasily.
I poured her a cup of water. She took it but only held it in her hands, not drinking it.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I couldn't help but ask. Her unusual behavior made me uneasy.
She smiled faintly. "We moved so suddenly… I'm still getting used to it."
I urged her to take a sip of the warm water. "Mom, have some. It'll warm you up. Just take it easy and sleep on it. Everything will feel better tomorrow. It's just the two of us now. No Robert, no Alex. From now on, things will only get better."
She took a small sip, her gaze drifting. "Serena, do you still remember your childhood?"
I sat down beside her, holding her hand. "Of course, I remember everything! Mom, what do you want to know?"
She smiled, nostalgia in her eyes. "Do you remember what you loved to play the most?"
"I loved playing house," I said with a chuckle. "And collecting all kinds of leaves and small rocks."
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