Chapter 80 Rediscovering Peace

• Cecilia
• Upon awakening in my mother's house, I noticed a comforting sensation despite the recent disappointment involving Liam. In fact, I slept deeply, something I attributed to returning to my true home, where I grew up alongside my mother and siblings, and, most importantly, away from the toxic influence of my stepfather. The cheerful call of Jennifer and Jefferson, my siblings, echoed through the corridors, indicating their excitement about my visit. They bounced eagerly, inviting me to the breakfast that was already being served by our mother. I felt at ease, wrapped in one of the old pajamas my mother had kept in my old room.
• Encountering my mother in the kitchen, her welcoming smile fills me with happiness. It's as if I have regained the woman she used to be - radiant and full of life, ready to take care of her children - instead of the person she became in recent years. The conversation between us flows naturally, about trivial matters, until Lilian wastes no time asking about my job. A whirlwind of thoughts invade my mind; I hesitate to reveal the whole truth, now that Jean is no longer at home to control me, but I end up deciding to only tell part of the truth.