Chapter 170: I was a mess
After dinner, Layla stayed behind to help the house staff, even though Lady Alessia had gently insisted she leave it to them.
"Why don’t you join me for a little chat?" Alessia said, her voice warm and inviting. "It’s been ages since I’ve had a young woman’s company in this house. But if you’re tired, we can talk in the morning."
Layla smiled softly. "I’m not tired, Grandma. Should we go to your room?"
Alessia’s eyes twinkled with affection. "Let’s take a walk in the garden instead. It’s always good to have a walk after a meal."
"That sounds lovely," Layla replied, slipping her arm through Alessia’s and holding it firmly.
As they strolled toward the garden, Layla felt a strange yet comforting warmth. She had often wondered what it might feel like to experience a grandmother’s love—a love she had never known.
Her own grandmother had always viewed her with disdain, making her feel like an outsider. But now, walking beside Alessia, a woman she had only recently met, Layla felt an unfamiliar yet profound sense of belonging. The simple act of being cared for by someone so kind filled her heart with a quiet joy, melting away some of the old wounds she carried all this time.
"Did Grandma grow all these flowers?" Layla asked, her gaze wandering over the vibrant beds of blossoms that stretched across the garden.
Alessia smiled, a gentle pride in her eyes. "Yes, I did. When my grandson’s mother was alive, she would help me tend to them. Since her passing, I’ve never missed a season of planting these flowers. It keeps her memory alive."