Chapter 102. Unpredictable Sin
As Maria stepped out of her room, she gently walked down the staircase to the living room. It was no surprise to her that Bernard and his parents were already seated there, quietly engaged in a serious conversation.
But the moment they noticed her arrival, all their attention quickly shifted to her, and the conversation they were having immediately ceased.
They all exchanged pleasantries, and Maria took a seat right beside Bernard.
"Maria, how are you feeling today?" Luna Victoria asked warmly, flashing a kind smile in her direction.
"I’m doing very great and feeling strong, ma’am," Maria replied, returning the smile with calmness in her voice.
She paused for a moment and looked at each of them with gratitude in her eyes.
"I want to thank you all for standing by me, for never giving up on me, even when my attitude sometimes was hard to handle. I truly appreciate the love, care, and support you’ve given me. Thank you so much."
"You don’t need to thank us for anything. You are part of this family, and we love you dearly," Beta Gilbert said modestly. "Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan it, but you will always be welcome here."
Bernard leaned in a little, his expression soft but laced with concern. "I heard the final exams are coming up in three weeks. I don’t think you should put yourself through that stress just yet."
Maria was surprised by his thoughtful tone. She wished she could believe his concern was genuine, but at this point, she couldn’t trust anyone—not even Bernard.
"Come on, Bernard, three weeks is a lot of time to prepare for any exam. I’m feeling perfectly fine now. Since today is Thursday, I’ll rest throughout the weekend and go back to college on Monday," Maria said cheerfully, masking her growing suspicions behind a pleasant smile.