Ethilia paused for a moment, then cleared her throat and began serving breakfast onto the plates again. "I quit," she said flatly, her voice drained of emotion. Without waiting for a response, she picked up the tray and walked toward the bedroom.
Liana opened her mouth to say something, but she had no idea what she should say. Something about those words felt off, though she couldn't explain why. The Ethilia she knew wasn't someone to abandon something so easily, especially any responsibility.
She quickly followed her into the bedroom, where Ethilia carefully placed the tray of breakfast on the bed.
"Mommy…" Alena's eyes lit up as she clapped her tiny hands. "Such a yummy breakfast!"
Ethilia bit her lip, guilt pressing down on her chest. She had never had enough money to buy Alena her favorite breakfast, and watching her daughter enjoy it now only made the ache sharper.
Liana noticed the flicker of pain in Ethilia's eyes. Sitting beside Alena, she pulled the little girl into her lap with ease. She cut the pancake into small pieces and lifted one to Alena's lips.
"Yes," she murmured with a soft smile, "and from now on, you'll have breakfasts like this all the time. Okay?"
Alena giggled, happily chewing as Liana fed her. Watching the gentle scene, a faint smile tugged at Ethilia's lips. She hesitated for a moment, then quietly sat on the other side of the bed.
Liana glanced at her, noticing that Ethilia hadn't touched a thing. She seemed lost in her thoughts. With a small breath, Liana cut a piece of pancake and held the spoon out to her.
Ethilia blinked, startled, her eyes snapping to the spoon hovering in front of her.
"Mommy, eat!" Alena urged with a bright grin. "It's so tasty!"
Ethilia hesitated and looked at Liana. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, the room falling into a charged silence. For a moment, it felt as if time had stilled.
Then Alena's cheerful voice broke through, and both women glanced at her, chuckling softly at the same time.
Ethilia finally leaned forward, taking the bite. As she chewed, a memory stirred, and she glanced at Liana. "This is… from the same place we used to eat back in college, isn't it?"
Liana nodded with a nostalgic smile and took a bite from the same spoon.
For a little while, the three of them ate together, laughter softening the air. The heaviness that always lingered between them seemed to melt away, replaced by the warmth of something almost like family.
When they finished, Liana handed Alena her phone to keep her occupied and quietly followed Ethilia into the kitchen.
"Ethilia," she called gently.
The kitchen was far too small for two, and when Ethilia turned, she nearly bumped into Liana's chest. The closeness was unexpected, and this caused Ethilia's heart to race.
Liana placed a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Why did you leave your job?"
Ethilia froze, her gaze dropping. She wasn't ready to let her guard down in front of Liana, not after the day she'd lashed out and told her she was nothing, that she didn't need her.
"It's nothing," she muttered, turning back to the sink. Her hands moved briskly over the dishes, as if scrubbing away the conversation.
"Look at me."
Liana's tone softened, yet carried a command Ethilia couldn't ignore. Liana turned her gently, took the towel, and dried her damp hands with deliberate care
Before Ethilia could resist, Liana drew her into the small living room. Crossing her arms, she stood firm, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
Ethilia tried to glare back, but the intensity in Liana's eyes made her falter. She bit down on her lower lip hard to stop it from trembling. Her fists clenched, betraying the turmoil inside her.
Liana stepped closer, hooking a finger under Ethilia's chin, tilting her face upward. "Tell me… what happened?"
Ethilia swallowed hard, and her breath was shaky. Their eyes locked, and she could feel the weight of the moment.
She couldn't bring herself to speak, so she shut her eyes instead.
"How could I tell you that this wasn't the first time? That I've been quitting jobs for years… because every time, someone in authority assumes I'm available... Just because I'm a single mother?"
The thought burned, and a tear slid down her cheek before she could stop it.
Liana's eyes widened in shock and somewhere guilt. She thought Ethilia was crying because she asked the question with harshness. She quickly pulled back her hand. "Okay… I won't ask. Just...don't cry."
But her tears kept falling. After years of carrying everything on her own, enduring society's insults and the betrayals of those she once trusted, she felt worthless, unseen.
And now, after all this time, someone was noticing her. After all these years, someone who actually cared. Worse, it was the one person she had hurt the most.
That pain cut sharper than she expected. Her head lowered, shame burning through her as tears spilled harder. A hiccup broke from her lips, raw and unrestrained.
Liana stood frozen, watching Ethilia's shoulders shake. Ethilia's fists were clenched, her head bowed low, as though she was ashamed of simply existing.
For a long moment, Liana didn't know what to do. Then, slowly, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. One hand cradled the back of Ethilia's head while the other stroked her shaking back in slow, soothing motions.
Ethilia stiffened at first, her breath catching in her throat. But then, like a dam had burst, she melted into the embrace. Her face buried into Liana's shoulder, her arms clutching desperately around her waist.
Liana held her closer, rocking her gently, whispering words meant to comfort. But each tender murmur only made Ethilia cry harder, and this time she didn't hold back.
For the first time in years, Ethilia allowed herself to collapse into someone else's arms, and it felt unbearably human.
After what felt like hours, Ethilia finally began to calm down. Liana exhaled slowly, steadying her own emotions as she pulled back slightly to study Ethilia's red, tear-streaked eyes.
Gently, she wiped the remaining tears from Ethilia's cheeks and whispered, "What happened… that made you break down?"
Ethilia tried to look away, but Liana's hands framed her face, holding her steady as her gaze was unwavering. Ethilia sniffed and bit her lip, on the verge of breaking again.
Liana's voice softened, but remained firm, "Even if you don't tell me, I'll figure it out. You can't keep it hidden from me."
Ethilia stiffened, shaking her head. "Don't…" Her voice was hoarse and fragile. "I… I'll tell you."
Liana nodded encouragingly, her thumbs brushing lightly against Ethilia's cheeks. Ethilia drew a shuddering breath and began, "The boss… he… he was trying to get his way with me."
Liana's thumb froze mid-stroke on Ethilia's cheek, her own chest tightening. Ethilia closed her eyes, shivering as she remembered that smirk on that man's face. She had been strong that time, but now, she couldn't.
Before Liana could speak, Alena's cheerful voice echoed from the bedroom. "Angel!"
"Coming, cutie," Liana replied before she glanced at Ethilia. "Go wash up, okay?" Ethilia nodded, retreating and wiping the last of her tears with the back of her hand.
Liana walked back into the bedroom, sitting beside Alena, who handed her the phone. "Someone's calling you, angel," the little girl said.
Liana ruffled her hair and kissed her forehead before taking the call. The screen showed it was Rio, one of her bodyguards.
"Hello, Rio," Liana said, her voice shifting from gentle to authoritative.
Alena reached for Liana's other hand, which was on her lap, and removed it from Liana's lap. Then wriggled comfortably onto Liana's lap. Liana smiled softly, watching how naturally the child settled there.
From the other end of the phone, Rio spoke, "Miss… we found a tracking device on the car you used here, and…" he paused, hesitating.
Liana's hand tightened protectively around Alena. For a moment, she feared that by meeting them, she might have put both Ethilia and Alena in danger.
She drew in a steadying breath. "Was it on the car I used to come here as well?"
When no reply came, she continued, voice rising slightly, "So they know where I go, where I stay… and who I'm close to." Alena looked up at her, sensing the sudden tension.
Ethilia, hearing the anger in Liana's voice, entered the room quietly, wiping her face. Her brows furrowed at the sharpness of Liana's tone, her stomach tightening with unease.
Taking tentative steps, Ethilia perched on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on Liana.
"I'll file a complaint against your company if you don't catch whoever is behind this soon," Liana said, her voice low but blazing with controlled fury.
"We're doing our best," Rio replied cautiously. "We've reached their base, but…"