She stood outside the gates of Ninesky Technologies, staring in silence for a long time, lost in thought.
At last, she let out a quiet sigh.
Turning away, Danielle walked back to her car.
On the way to her mother’s house, she stopped at the grocery store, picking up some of Vivian’s favorite fruit and a few nutritional supplements the doctor had recommended for her uncle Clyde as he recovered from surgery. Only then did she head home.
The moment she opened the door, the scent of cooking swept over her, warm and inviting.
Vivian, wearing a floral apron, was bustling around the kitchen. At the sound of the door, she poked her head out and smiled, “You’re back? Go wash your hands—dinner’s almost ready.”
Danielle set her bags down and joined her in the kitchen to help. “Mom, how’s Uncle Clyde today? Does his incision still hurt?”
“He’s much better,” Vivian replied, stirring vegetables in the skillet. “The doctor checked on him this morning and said his recovery’s going well. He should be able to come home soon.”
She glanced over her shoulder, her smile reassuring. “Try not to worry, honey. Your uncle’s always been strong—he’ll bounce back in no time.”
Danielle nodded, her gaze lingering on the fine lines at the corners of her mother’s eyes. Guilt tugged at her heart. “Mom, you’ve worked so hard these past years—taking care of Uncle Clyde and holding the family together.”
Vivian clicked off the stove, scooping the food onto a serving platter. “Oh, don’t be silly. We’re family. If you and Niki are doing well, that’s all I care about.”
During dinner, Danielle hesitated for a long while before finally broaching the subject that had been weighing on her mind.
“Mom, about the divorce with Dad… Is everything going smoothly? You seem distracted lately. Has he been giving you a hard time again?”
Vivian’s hand paused midair as she reached for another dish. She shook her head gently, her voice calm and steady. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. I can handle it.”
“We’ve made it this far, haven’t we? A little more time doesn’t matter. You’re about to take Niki and start a new chapter—focus on that. Let me take care of things here.”
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