chapter912

Just when Thalassa’s heart was racing with anxiety, Lysander withdrew his gaze and turned to get back

into his car. Thalassa watched his taillights fade into the night, her tight chest finally easing as she

made her way back inside.

Evelyn was waiting in the living room, her face etched with concern as she approached. “What did

Lysander want by showing up here so late?”

Evelyn’s eyes were a mix of tense worry and suppressed anger. She had just been through a rough

patch with Bruce, who had been nothing but trouble and torment. She had lost all faith in men.

Lysander, who hadn’t given Thalassa any commitment, seemed no different than Bruce in his relentless

pursuit. What was the difference, really? Bruce had a wife, and although Lysander didn’t have another

woman besides Thalassa, he did have a fiancée! In Evelyn’s eyes, he was no different from Bruce!

She had pretended to be polite earlier, but in truth, she wanted Lysander gone, not wanting Thalassa to

suffer any more.

“Mom, don’t worry. He just found out about my new place and wanted to check in. It’s all good now. You

should head back to bed,” Thalassa said, trying to sound nonchalant to ease her mother’s mind.

“Is that really all it was?” Evelyn pressed, still uneasy.

“Of course, why would I lie to you? Now, don’t worry. Go get some sleep; it’s the middle of the night,”

Thalassa reassured her. “You realize it’s late, then? Get some rest yourself. You have work tomorrow.

The company has been so good to you; don’t slack off now. These days, you can’t rely on men, only on

yourself. Don’t let your job down.”

Evelyn lectured Thalassa. She had once hoped Thalassa would marry a good man, but now she saw

things differently. Self-reliance was key.

Thalassa had finally found a company willing to give her a place to stay, and she had to work hard to

give something back. “I get it, Mom. Now, please rest,” Thalassa urged.

“Mhm, you too. You won’t get many hours of sleep before it’s time to get up for work,” Evelyn continued

her motherly nagging. “Okay, Mom, I’m off to bed,” Thalassa responded.

Seeing her mother had the energy and mind to fuss over her again brought a sense of joy to

Thalassa’s heart.

At least Evelyn wasn’t drowning in her sorrows anymore.

Watching Evelyn retire to her room, Thalassa felt relieved and turned to head upstairs, forgetting about

the opened box of birth control pills under the pillow.

The next morning, Thalassa woke up to the delicious scent of food.

She wandered into the kitchen to find Evelyn aproned up and bustling about, looking as normal as ever,

as if nothing had happened.

Thalassa’s worries melted away.

“You’re up! Quickly have your meal and head to work. Don’t be late,” Evelyn said as she plated the

food.

Thalassa took her seat at the table, a smile playing on her lips. “This smells amazing, Mom. Your

cooking is as wonderful as ever. In a few days, I’ll bring the kids over. They must be missing your

dishes.”

The food prepared by the chefs at Royal Estates rivals that of a five-star hotel. How could the kids

remember my home-cooked dishes?” Evelyn responded.

“Oh, you’re wrong there, Mom. The taste of home can’t be replaced by any chef’s skills. For me and the

kids, wherever you are, that’s home,” Thalassa said, heartily digging in.

Evelyn’s hand paused mid-air, cutlery in grasp, as a wave of bittersweet emotion washed over her.

Thalassa’s words were an affirmation of her importance. She and the kids needed her.

Evelyn felt a pang of guilt recalling her foolish act the day before. She had scared Thalassa, no doubt.

Reflecting on it, Evelyn regretted her impulsiveness. She shouldn’t have considered such a drastic way

out. Had she gone through with it, Thalassa and the kids would have been left truly alone.