ong-lost child finally standing before her. Her voice trembled, bre

, she reached forward and pulle

fection surrounding her had felt almost foreign. She wasn't used to this kind of welc

Marissa lowered her gaze, feeling a hot sting in her own eyes. She hesi

e cupped Marissa's face and asked softly, "Did th

ct. But I managed,

saw no reason to lie. There was no point in def

e was too overwhelmed to respond. Overcome with emotion, she clung to

care

t before they could move, they saw Marissa easily lift t

urprise. Who would've guessed

de her do all the heavy lifting a

ine exclaimed, her voice overfl

edge, and her expression instantly changed. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on her pa

hook her

uiet, Corrine didn't b

e, no fondness when she spoke of them. The absence of any emotion was

n who had always carried herself with confidence couldn't even lift her eyes to meet her daught

en, carried by the weig

e meeting Corrine's tearful eyes. After a

t mind would ever choose

ut I am your daught

amily as lowly and despicable, a far cry fro

ently took her daughter's hand. "We have The

blinked, surprise fl

heodore met once before. He said he saw you at a busin

e carried no particular int

her towards the walk-in closet. "I've had so many clothes and pieces of jew

this new life slowly. But seeing her daughter's torn skirt earlier had made he

empts to engage her had been met with short, almost emotionle

tively. She longed to be near her daughter, but she also didn't want to make he

g. She offered her mother a reassuring smil

ture of concern behind those words, her disappointment softened i

ped push her mother's wheelcha

ned to Marc, her tone calm but edged with concern.