Chapter 46: Secret unveiled
Lily opened the door to find her mother standing there, a look of delight on her face. "Oh my baby! Wow! This look so beautiful! How long did it take you to clean here?" Her mother’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she took in the spotless living room.
Lily’s heart raced, her nerves on edge as she forced a calm demeanor. "A few hours," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. The effort she had put into tidying up was evident, but she hoped her mother wouldn’t notice the small, nervous tremors in her hands.
Her mother stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the room before landing on the bag on the sofa. Lily’s eyes widened involuntarily. "Oh! Why did you buy this?" her mother asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and surprise.
Lily scratched her head awkwardly, her mind racing. She was caught off guard by the question and struggled with whether to explain that the bag had been a gift from someone else or to simply change the subject. Her mother’s keen eye and probing questions made it difficult to find a smooth exit.
"Mom, why are you here? Did you change your mind about something?" Lily asked, attempting to divert the conversation from the bag.
Her mother looked at her with a soft smile, her eyes full of warmth. "No, I just came to see you. I really miss you."
Lily felt a pang of guilt. "Mom, it’s been hours," she said, trying to mask her unease with a hint of exasperation.
Her mother’s smile faltered slightly. "So you don’t want to see me?" she asked, a touch of hurt in her voice. Lily quickly realized how her words might have sounded and hurried to clarify.
"That’s not what I meant," Lily said, her voice earnest. She reached out to her mother, hoping to bridge the gap her unintended words had created.