’I have hurt him,’ Nora thought and looked out of the window. The entire journey to her ho went in silence.
"You don’t have to drop at the office," she murmured, breaking the ice.
Demitri didn’t look at her, simply responding with a low hum. As she carefully stepped out and closed the door, he drove away without another word, disappearing down the street.
Back at her small apartnt, Nora quickly got ready for work. She took the tro, arriving at the office just in ti.
"Morning, Nora! Did you get ho safely last night?" Maya greeted her as she entered.
"Yeah," Nora replied, opening her locker. She fastened her naplate onto her blazer before heading to the reception desk.
As she powered on the system, Maya’s voice broke the montary silence.
"Are you seeing soone?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Nora glanced at her colleague. "No. Why?"
Maya hesitated before responding. "Oh, I was just curious. A friend of mine is—"
Before she could finish, Nora cut in. "I’m not interested, Maya. Also, what you did last night was unacceptable to . I don’t understand why you all love to gossip, but if you do, then keep out of that," she blurted out.
She was done with their schemings. Nora tried to fit with them, but they weren’t worthy of her. So, it was better to keep a distance from all of them.
Maya was shocked for a mont and then, she chuckled. Before she could reply back, a person ca to the desk. Nora attended him calmly while answering all her queries.
~~~~~
Orabela looked at the mansion before her. The place which was her ho once was now just a re house for her.
She walked in and stopped at the living room. The house maids recognized her and one went to inform both Darius and Miriam about her presence.
"Is Dad ho?" Orabela asked a standing maid nearby.
"Yes, Miss," the maid replied politely.
"Orabela!" Darius called out, his voice laced with surprise as his gaze softened.
Miriam followed closely behind him, a warm smile gracing her lips.
"Dad!" Orabela walked forward, wrapping her arms around her father. He patted her head affectionately before she pulled away and turned to Miriam. To her surprise, Miriam embraced her first, the warmth of the gesture catching her off guard—but she liked it.
Taking a step back, Orabela offered a small smile. "I took a week off and decided to return. I brought gifts for you both." She handed each bag to Miriam and Darius, her tone light yet careful.
"Co, take a seat," Darius said, leading her toward the couch. Once they settled, he studied her with a questioning gaze. "Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?"
Miriam, anwhile, signaled a maid to bring refreshnts, her eyes lingering on Orabela with quiet curiosity.
"It’s my third day here, Dad," Orabela admitted. "I wanted to see Layla, but she’s not in Ro."
"She’s on a trip with Lucius," Darius explained. "A lot has happened with them. Seraphina... she—" He hesitated, the words catching in his throat, unable to tell Orabela the full truth.
But Orabela already knew. "I know she’s gone," she said. Her voice held no remorse. "Honestly, she deserved an end like this. Despite everything, she never learned from her mistakes. She chose to do another cri. I wanted to know from Layla about it, but she’s not in Ro."
"Layla and Lucius are outside Ro for a week. They needed a break to escape from such a stressful environnt for a while," Miriam explained gently.
Orabela nodded, absorbing the words before glancing at Miriam. After a brief pause, she asked, "Will you consider your daughter again, Mom?"
Miriam’s expression softened as she t Orabela’s gaze. She nodded. "I believe we shouldn’t hold on to hatred in our hearts anymore," she said with sincerity. "Stay here from now on," Miriam said gently. "Your father told you’re working as a manager at the company."
"Yes," Orabela replied with a firm tone. "I won’t be returning anyti soon. It’s better to stay away from here."
Both Darius and Miriam exchanged a glance, sensing the weight behind Orabela’s words.
"What’s bothering you?" Miriam asked gently.
"Everything bothers here," Orabela admitted, though she left out the one thing that haunted her most, Roderick. She missed him more than she cared to admit, but she knew it was pointless.
Her gaze flickered toward her sister’s man, a painful reminder of her mistakes. Staying away from Ro was the best choice—for everyone. Roderick didn’t want her anymore, and she had no place in his life.
"Do whatever you feel is right," Darius said, carrying an unmistakable guilt. "We’ll support you. But please, don’t beco like your mother."
Orabela’s expression hardened. "I am nothing like her," she stated coldly. "I never considered her my mother. She ruined my life." Her eyes burned with anger and the resentnt she carried toward Seraphina. In one second, after the truth was out, everything was ruined in her life.
"I’ll leave now," Orabela said, rising to her feet.
"No," Miriam objected gently. "Have lunch with us. And don’t stay in a hotel when this is also your ho."
Orabela offered a small, grateful smile but shook her head. "Thank you for accepting back, but I think it’s better if I keep my distance," she said with deeper understanding. "I know I’m not your biological daughter, and no matter how much ti passes, it must still hurt that my mother tried to destroy your ho."
Miriam’s expression softened, but she said nothing. Darius, too, remained silent, as if struggling to find the right words.
As Orabela turned to leave, Miriam said, "I don’t want to repeat the sa mistake. It wasn’t your fault. It was ours. We always discriminated with Layla and we still regret it. I, on the other hand, regret it the most. That’s why I don’t want to lose you too. Orabela, let’s forget the past and move on."
Her eyes turned misty and she nodded her head. "Thanks, Mom. This ans a lot to ," Orabela said with a genuine smile.
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