Iris’s POV The gate had barely swung open before my mum appeared, as if she had been waiting just behind it. I had one foot out of the car when she reached me, pulling me into a tight hug that caught me off guard. She held me at arm’s length a moment later, her hands framing my face as she looked me over properly. “My baby,” she said, her voice soft with relief. “You’re finally here.” “I’m here,” I replied, smiling. Her attention shifted almost immediately to Marcus, and her expression warmed even more. “Marcus, you’re welcome,” she said, stepping forward to greet him. “You didn’t have to bring her yourself.” “I wanted to,” he said easily. That seemed to please her, because she ushered us inside without another word, already calling out to the rest of the house. The moment we stepped into the foyer, I could hear voices layered over each other, laughter spilling from the sitting room, the faint clatter of dishes from the kitchen. It took a second for my eyes to adjust
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