The phone rang, shattering the silence of Ava's home office. She frowned at the caller ID - her mother Victoria again. Ava braced herself before answering.
"Hello?"
"Ava, darling! It's your mother," Victoria's sugary voice cooed through the line.
Ava rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. What is it this time?"
"Well, I have some...changes to my plans that I need to discuss with you," Victoria began in a tone attempting nonchalance. "This little adventure I'm on isn't over quite yet."
Ava felt her stomach drop in dread. "What does that mean exactly?"
"It means I won't be coming back to the mansion just yet after all," Victoria stated matter-of-factly. "This lifestyle is too marvelous to abandon so soon!"
"You're not coming back?" Ava sputtered, trying to process her mother's words. "After that whole dramatic call about preparing for your return?"
