Chapter 14

The house felt unusually quiet after Nash left. It wasn’t just the absence of his footsteps echoing through the hallway or the missing sound of his deep voice calling for something from the kitchen. It was something else—an unfamiliar stillness that wrapped itself around Liana like a soft fog.

She stood near the glass window of the drawing room, holding the curtain edge between her fingers. The sky was bluer than usual, wide and open like a canvas freshly painted. She should have felt lonely with Nash gone, but instead, her heart felt light. Maybe it was because things were slowly beginning to feel… normal. Whatever that meant now.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of the old landline phone sliced through the silence.

“Miss Liana!” The maid’s voice echoed from the hallway. “It’s a call from the Master’s little sister.”

Liana’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. Mia? Her heels tapped lightly on the wooden floor as she walked out of the room. Her hand brushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she reached for the phone mounted on the wall in the hallway.

“Hello?” she spoke softly, a little unsure.

“Hey! Liana?” came the familiar chirpy voice from the other end.

Liana’s eyes lit up. “Mia! Oh my god… it’s so nice to hear your voice.”

Mia giggled. “You sound so proper, Liana. It’s just me!”

“I know, I just… I wasn’t expecting your call. Thank you for calling me,” Liana replied sincerely. “I really appreciate it. How are you? How’s your health these days?”

“I’m all good! College is boring, and I’m totally sick of Mom trying to fix me up with some guy from her kitty party circle,” Mia groaned. “Anyway, more importantly—how are you?”

Liana leaned her back against the wall, twirling the phone cord between her fingers.

“I’m doing well,” she said softly. “Really. Nash is… taking care of me.”

There was a small pause from Mia’s side, but when she spoke again, her voice was filled with genuine relief.

“I’m so happy to hear that. Really. I was worried about you after everything…”

Liana smiled faintly. “You’re very kind, Mia. Even back at your house… you were one of the only people who treated me like a person.”

“I wish I’d done more,” Mia mumbled. “Mom can be… intense. You know how she is.”

“I do,” Liana replied quietly. “But that’s all in the past. What matters is now.”

Mia perked up. “By the way, is my dear brother home today?”

Liana chuckled. “No, he just left for a business trip. One day, one night. He’ll be back tomorrow evening.”

Mia squealed. “Yes! So you’re free today, right?”

Liana laughed again, already sensing something behind that excitement. “Why? What are you planning?”

“I was thinking… I wanted to go shopping, but ugh—there’s no one to go with me,” Mia groaned dramatically. “Would you come with me? Pretty please? I’ll drive! And I’ll treat you to bubble tea! Or sushi! Whatever you want!”

Liana’s smile widened. The idea of going out felt refreshing. “That actually sounds like fun.”

“YES!” Mia cheered. “Okay, okay—I’m coming to pick you up right now. Don’t you dare change your mind!”

“I won’t,” Liana laughed. “I’ll get ready.”

She hung up, still smiling to herself as she turned. It had been so long since she had gone out in daylight, so long since she had felt something as simple as excitement for a small day out. The maid helped her pick out a dress—a soft peach-colored summer dress that hugged her just right. It flowed gently as she walked and made her skin look even more radiant under the sun. Her makeup was light, only a touch of gloss and some warm blush.

By the time she was adjusting her earrings in front of the hallway mirror, she heard the honk of a car outside.

“She’s here, Miss,” the maid said with a grin, holding the door open.

Liana stepped out onto the porch, blinking a little as the sunlight kissed her face. After so many days indoors, it felt surreal—too warm, too golden, too perfect. She paused, breathing it in. Her skin glowed like glass under the light, her eyes reflecting the bright blue of the sky.

Mia leaned against her sleek silver car, sunglasses perched on her head, waving at her excitedly.

“Hey hey! Miss Sunshine is out in the wild!” Mia teased, her voice loud and playful.

Liana laughed as she walked down the steps and opened the passenger side door. The girls shared a quick, warm hug—the kind of greeting that only girls who haven’t seen each other in weeks can do.

Mia held her a moment longer, pulling back just slightly to study her. “Damn, girl. My brother is really taking care of you. You’re glowing. You smell like vanilla dreams. And that dress?” She gave a dramatic gasp. “Charismatic much?”

Liana blushed, laughing shyly. “Stop it.”

“No seriously, you look so pretty. I feel underdressed standing next to you.”

“You look amazing too,” Liana replied honestly. “It’s really nice to see you again, Mia. We haven’t met since… everything happened. After I got sick and came here.”

Mia’s smile faltered slightly. Her eyes dropped for a second. “Yeah… I know. I wanted to come see you sooner, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me after how Mom and Nash treated you back then.”

Liana touched her arm gently. “Hey… don’t be sad about the past. What’s important is we’re here now, right? So start the engine already! I’m excited to buy a lot of things. And eat a lot. And maybe even get lost in the city with you.”

Mia looked at her with wide eyes, her heart softening at how effortlessly kind Liana still was. “How do you do that?” she whispered.

“Do what?”

“Be so… forgiving. So warm. Even after everything.”