The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 535

Chapter 264: The Choices She Had to Make

At the mention of her mother, Maya finally understood why the pendant had seemed so familiar.

A memory resurfaced in her mind.

She had seen her mother wear it before.

Whenever there was something worth celebrating-a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or one of hers or Jaime’s school events-Malia would often wear that very pendant.

As the memories came flooding back, a thought quietly crossed Maya’s mind.

Perhaps her mother had worn it for the same reason Dahlia wore hers now.

Because on the days that mattered most, she wanted to feel as though her best friend was right there beside her.

Maya let her eyes rest on the pendant for another moment before looking back at Dahlia.

“Is that why… last night…”

Her voice trailed off before she could finish.

Dahlia stepped closer and gently rested both hands on Maya’s arms.

“Yes.”

Her smile softened with quiet nostalgia.

“I spent most of yesterday thinking about your mother.”

She drew a slow breath before continuing.

“I kept wishing she were here to see everything that’s happened lately.”

A bittersweet smile touched Dahlia’s lips.

“I wanted to tell her how brave Jaime has been through all of this…”

Then she let out a quiet laugh as an image came to mind.

“Although

“An ably be pacing back and forth by now, worrying himself sick.”

“She’d probably tell him to get himself together. Otherwise, he been the more anxious one.

coming home from school with nothing more than a mild stomach flu. She hadn’t been able to keep any food down, and Julian hack practically worn a path to her bedroom, checking on her every few minutes.

By the fifth or sixth visit, Malia had finally thrown her hands up.

“For goodness’ sake, Julian,” she had scolded with an exasperated laugh “How is she supposed to get any rest if you keep barging in every five minutes? If anyone’s going to make her sick, it’ll be you.”

Even Julian had laughed sheepishly before promising to stop.

He lasted all of ten minutes before quietly peeking through the bedroom door again.

The memory brought another soft laugh to Maya’s lips.

Standing quietly beside her, Damien found himself watching every subtle change in her expression. The little smiles that came and went so naturally tugged at the corners of his own mouth, and before he realized it, he was smiling right along with her.

Dahlia’s smile softened even more as she gently cupped Maya’s cheek, her eyes shimmering with quiet warmth.

“…and how proud she would be of the woman you’ve become, sweetheart.”

Maya’s smile slowly faded as emotion welled inside her.

A lump formed in her throat as Dahlia’s emotions from the previous night finally made perfect sense to her.

In the short time Maya and Jaime had been welcomed into Damien’s family, Dahlia had embraced them

with a warmth that came so naturally it never once felt forced. She cared for them with the quiet devotion of a mother, never making them feel like outsiders or a responsibility she had taken on for someone else’s sake.

Her voice remained steady, but the sadness behind it was unmistakable.

“I had to… pawn Mom’s jewelry to help cover his medical bills.”

She paused, lowering her eyes once more.

“It was my last resort. The only things I couldn’t bring myself to part with were Mom and Dad’s wedding bands. I still have those.”

When she looked back at Dahlia, quiet remorse filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Dahlia. If I had known how much that necklace meant to both of you, I never would have…”

Dahlia didn’t let her finish.

She gently took both of Maya’s hands in hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

“Shh.”

She slowly shook her head.

“You don’t owe me-or anyone-an apology.”

Regret washed over Dahlia almost instantly.

Caught up in the emotion of the moment, she had completely forgotten that Jaime had already told them. the morning before how Maya had been forced to pawn their mother’s jewelry so they could survive.

But hearing those words from Maya herself now made Dahlia’s heart ache all over again.

“You did what you had to do. Anyone in your position would have done the very same thing. There is nothing to be sorry for.”

Maya’s eyes turned misty once more as she gave a small nod.

Although Dahlia’s reassurance eased some of the guilt weighing on her heart, it could never erase the choices she had been forced to make.

She still couldn’t help wishing things had been different.