Nathan didn’t continue right away. He allowed a few seconds to pass—long enough to make sure Eli was truly ready to hear what he had to say.
Eli looked from Nathan to Riana, her uneasy plan to see. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was certain they could hear it. Whatever this was, it felt serious.
Riana tightened her hold onto Eli’s hand, offering warmth, a silent assurance that she wasn’t alone.
“So… what is it you want to talk about, GrandDad?” Eli asked, glancing at Riana again as if to confirm someone was still beside her.
Nathan gave her a small, reassuring smile and tried to keep his tone relaxed. “There’s something you need to know about your mother’s current situation.”
Eli’s eyes widened instantly. “Is she sick?” she asked in alarm. “Where is she now?”
“Your mother isn’t sick, Eli.” Nathan drew in a slow breath. “But for a while… I don’t think she’ll be able to come back to you.”
Her brows knitted tightly. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother is facing legal proceedings,” Nathan explained calmly. “There were certain decisions she made… actions that broke the law. And she has to take responsibility for them.”
He avoided harsh words. No mention of evil. No accusations. Just facts delivered gently.
Eli held his gaze for a long moment, then slowly lowered her eyes. “I… suspected something,” she admitted quietly.
Nathan and Riana exchanged a brief look.
“What do you mean?” Riana asked carefully.
Eli swallowed. A faint, bitter laugh escaped her. “I don’t know, GrandMom. Sometimes I felt like Mom did things she wasn’t supposed to. I tried to protest once or twice, but she would get angry and punish me.” Her fingers tightened together in her lap. “It was like I wasn’t supposed to know anything. I just had to do whatever she wanted. Even when she pushed me to insist on staying in this house. Even though GrandDad had already offered us a nice apartment. I was grateful for that.”
Silence settled heavily in the room. Eli kept her head bowed, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap.
“GrandDad and I want you to understand one thing,” Riana said gently. “Whatever happened is not your fault. We know you weren’t involved in anything your mother did.”
Eli nodded slowly. “I know,” she whispered, though her voice trembled.
Nathan continued, his tone steady but kind. “The legal process may take a long time. For now, your mother won’t be able to come home. And once the court decides her sentence… it’s likely you won’t see her for quite some time.”
The words sounded heavy—almost suffocating. Eli’s chest tightened. What would she do without her mother? She still couldn’t bring herself to look at Nathan.
“How long?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

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