Aliana stood by the window, her hands clasped against her chest, she gazed out thoughtfully, her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Mrs. Cody's words echoed in her ears. She couldn't shake the realization that the woman standing before her was indeed John's mother. The resemblance was subtle but unmistakable, enough to make her wonder why John had never shown her a picture of his mother no matter how angry he was with her.
Deep in contemplation, Aliana was drawn back to the present as Mrs. Cody addressed her directly. "Aliana, I just want to meet you and my granddaughter," Mrs. Cody stated calmly, her voice carrying a hint of warmth and sincerity.
Aliana's suspicion was piqued by this unexpected revelation. "How did you know about my daughter?" she inquired, her tone tinged with curiosity and caution.
Mrs. Cody responded with a smile, her demeanor relaxed. "Oh, the pictures of you and her are everywhere," she explained casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I guess John has never talked about me?" she added, her expression hinting at a touch of wistfulness.
Her tone suggested a familiarity that caught Aliana off guard.
Aliana shook her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she tried to decipher Mrs. Cody's true intentions. Resuming her seat, she focused on listening to why she had sought her out.
"I just came to meet you and Ava and treat you to dinner," she explained, her tone sincere. "I will be leaving Silvervale tomorrow, so this might be our only chance to meet for quite some time," she added. Her request was surprising yet straightforward.
Aliana considered her request, her initial wariness giving way to a sense of understanding and empathy. "Okay," she agreed, nodding slowly. "But dinner will need to be in the evening around 6:30 pm. I'll need time to prepare Ava," she stipulated calmly.
Mrs. Cody's gratitude was palpable. "Oh, Aliana, thank you!" she exclaimed excitedly, her eyes alight with anticipation.
Aliana inquired "so where is the venue for the dinner?"
Mrs. Cody, momentarily apologetic, covered her mouth slightly with her fingers, her smile unapologetic. "What about the hotel where I am staying? Is that fine?" she suggested. "Or can you recommend any nice restaurants? Alternatively, I can ask my assistant to find a suitable restaurant and we will get back to you," she offered graciously.
Aliana considered the options, her expression thoughtful yet accommodating. "Okay, that's fine. I'll be waiting," she replied calmly.
Aliana bid Mrs. Cody farewell at the bakery door, she felt a weight settling on her shoulders—the exhaustion from the recent wedding combined with the unexpected encounter with John's mother. Alex, observant as always, followed closely behind, his curiosity evident in his questions.
"Ms. Ana, why was she here? Is she having a wedding or an event? Does she want our pastries or desserts?" Alex inquired, scanning Aliana's demeanor for clues. He paused, noticing Aliana's uncharacteristic quietness. Concern etched his features as he asked in a serious tone, "Did she do something to you? What happened?"
Aliana sat in her office chair, still reeling from the unexpected visit of Mrs. Cody, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Alex's concerned questions only added to her sense of overwhelm. She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she tried to process the whirlwind of emotions.
"That was my mother-in-law, Alex," Aliana finally explained, her voice tinged with weariness. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to gather her thoughts amidst the fatigue.
Alex's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. Without a word, he hurried outside to catch another glimpse of Mrs.Cody, hoping to confirm what he had heard from Aliana.
Meanwhile, Aliana reached for her phone and dialed Amy, her closest friend and confidante. On the other end of the line, Amy's cheerful voice greeted Aliana. "I believe the desserts catering at the wedding were a huge success, right?" Amy asked brightly, unaware of the turmoil Aliana was experiencing.
"Hmmm," Aliana murmured, her mind still preoccupied. "Can you come over to the house?" she requested abruptly, her tone betraying her underlying distress.
Amy, sensing Aliana's mood shift, was quick to pick up on the seriousness of the situation. "Yeah, but why are you sounding this way?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"John's mother just left here," Aliana replied then she heard a rattling sound before the call ended.
Aliana's phone slipped from her hand as she closed her eyes, the weight of the recent events bearing down on her. She tried to collect herself, knowing she would need to face the aftermath of Mrs. Cody's visit.
Minutes passed in silence until Aliana heard a shuffling outside her office door. Amy entered, carrying three shopping bags filled with designer outfits, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. Alex followed closely with another bag in hand.
"What's going on?" Aliana asked, her voice laced with sleepiness as she observed Amy's and Alex's expressions.
"Were you sleeping?" Amy questioned gently, her eyes studying Aliana's face carefully for any sign of distress as she settled into a seat opposite her.
"I must have slept off," Aliana admitted with a yawn, her exhaustion evident.
Amy leaned forward. Her curiosity gets the better of her. "Oh, tell me, what is she like?" she prompted, eager for details about John's mother.
"Please pass me that yogurt you brought," Aliana requested, reaching for the snack.
"She's beautiful, commands respect with her eyes," Aliana began, "To put it simply, she's an older version of Ava... in her early fifties or so, very wealthy," she explained, trying to paint a vivid picture of the woman.
"What's her name?" Amy inquired, her fingers tapping away on her phone.
"Susan Cody Johnson," Aliana replied, noticing Amy's sudden flurry of activity. Peering over, she noticed Amy's phone screen was broken.
"When did this happen?" Aliana asked, pointing to the damaged screen.
"Oh, today while I was talking to you—it slipped from my hand, because you shocked me" Amy explained nonchalantly. Then, with a flourish, she turned her phone towards Aliana, revealing a picture of Mrs. Cody.
Aliana's eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, that's her," she affirmed.
Amy's excitement bubbled over. "So, this is John's mother? hmm This woman is a business tycoon, known in the business world of Willow Spring as the 'Iron Rose'," Amy exclaimed, her fingers flying across her phone as she shared intriguing details about reputation and influence.
Susan Cody Johnson, also known as the "Iron Rose," is a highly successful and influential businesswoman in Willow Spring. She owns and manages businesses in real estate, finance, technology, and hospitality sectors. She is admired for her strong leadership and strategic investments. She is also active in philanthropy and community initiatives, making her a respected figure in the region.
She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease and wondered why John never mentioned anything regarding his mother. She is a woman to be proud of.
Our relationship had always been built on mutual trust and openness, or so I thought.
"It's strange, isn't it? John never once mentioned his mother to me, I know he has his secret but now, meeting his mother out of the blue….
" Aliana mused aloud, her brow furrowed with worry. "He always said we should focus on each other more than anyone else. Could they have had serious issues?"
Amy considered Aliana's questions thoughtfully before responding. "John likely has his reasons for keeping his family dynamics private," Amy suggested, her voice calm and reassuring. "And remember, Mrs. Cody won't be staying here permanently. just approach the dinner with an open mind. Introduce her to Ava and see how it goes. If she causes trouble, we can always involve the authorities."
Aliana nodded slowly, absorbing Amy's words. Despite her lingering concerns, she felt a sense of determination to handle the situation calmly and responsibly.
Why don't we go get you prepared for this dinner.
Joe came to assist with the shopping bags loaded in the truck, they left for Aliana's place with Amy.
When they got home Ava was playing in her doll house when she saw them.
Mummy! Mummy, you are back?
Yes honey, attempting to carry her then She excitedly leaped forward and ran to Amy.
Aunty Amy, I missed you so much.
I missed you too sweetie.
Amy carried her , they went upstairs.
Aliana squatted down to her level and tried explaining.
"Hey Ava, you know how Mommy and Daddy have their moms and dads? Well, today we're going to meet someone special who is going to be like your new grandmother. Her name is Grandma Susan. She's Daddy's mom, and she's excited to meet you!
She loves Daddy very much, just like we love you. We're going to have dinner together and get to know each other better. Isn't that exciting?"
Ava nodded.
Then she instructed Amanda to get her ready.
Aliana carefully selected an outfit that struck the perfect balance between elegance and comfort. She wanted to make a good impression while maintaining her personal style.
She opted for a knee-length navy blue dress with a subtle floral pattern, paired with a tailored black blazer for a touch of sophistication. The dress highlighted her figure without being too revealing.
To complement her outfit she chose simple pearl earrings and a delicate silver bracelet. She styled her hair in loose waves cascading over her shoulders and applied a natural makeup look, emphasizing her features with soft tones.
Ava was dressed in an adorable outfit that showcased her playful and cheerful personality. she wore a cute pink dress adorned with tiny flowers, paired with white leggings for comfort. Her little feet were adorned with sparkly silver shoes that lit up with each step.
To top off Ava's look, Amanda tied her hair into two pigtails with colorful bows, framing her joyful face. Ava's eyes sparkled with excitement as she held her mother's hand, ready to meet her grandmother for the first time.
Aliana prepared for the dinner meeting with Mrs. Cody, she couldn't shake off her unease. Amy, ever supportive, helped Aliana get ready .
"You've got this, Aliana," Amy said with a reassuring smile. "Just be yourself and remember, Ava will be with you the entire time. We'll keep a close eye on everything."
Aliana took a deep breath, feeling grateful for Amy's steadfast presence. Together, they headed to the designated restaurant to meet Mrs. Cody.
As they arrived, Aliana spotted Mrs. Cody waiting at a corner table. She appeared elegant and composed, her demeanor giving no indication of any underlying issues. Taking a deep breath, Aliana approached with Ava by her side.
"Good evening, Mrs. Cody," Aliana greeted politely, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "Thank you for inviting us to dinner."
Mrs. Cody smiled warmly, her gaze shifting to Ava. "It's my pleasure, Aliana," she replied graciously. "And this must be Ava," she added, extending a welcoming hand towards Aliana's daughter.