The room felt warmer now, the air lighter, as if something had shifted between them. The weight that had lingered for so long seemed a little less heavy. Milly sat back, her mother still holding her hand, and for a moment, everything seemed almost normal again. They were just mother and daughter, sitting together, sharing a quiet space.
Her mother's gaze softened as she studied Milly. "I see the way you've been working on your fashion line, Milly. I can tell how much effort you've put into it. But I also know it's not just about clothes or designs. It's about rebuilding your life, isn't it?"
Milly met her mother's gaze, her heart beating just a little faster. "Yes," she replied quietly. "It is. It's my way of making up for all the time I wasted. For the damage I caused."
