Chapter 80: Winner
Helen sat beside Ava on the couch, then gently reached out and held her hand. Tilting her head with a pout, she looked up into Ava’s cold eyes.
"Sister, why are you ignoring me again?" she asked in a soft, wounded tone.
Ava’s brows furrowed slightly as she glanced down at Helen’s small hand holding hers. She looked ready to pull away—habitually avoiding touch—but paused when she saw Helen’s innocent pout.
"...I’m not ignoring you, Helen," Ava replied after a beat. "The meeting was cancelled, so I came here when I heard Carter had returned."
Helen’s pout eased into a small smile, and she leaned closer. Ava’s fingers twitched slightly but she didn’t move her hand away.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, interrupting the moment. All three of them turned toward the door.
A mature woman in her early forties entered, wearing glasses and an apron. Her expression was sharp but not unkind. The moment her eyes landed on Carter sprawled on the bed, she sighed and crossed her arms.
"Oh, madam—you finally decided to show up," she said dryly. "And how exactly did you get into the house? The front door was locked."
Carter grinned, stood up, and walked over to her. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around the woman in a hug.
"Mom, why are you scolding me? I just got back! I used the ninja way to get in—you wouldn’t understand," she said playfully.
Their mother shook her head, the corners of her lips twitching despite herself.