Zara was peacefully dozing in the master bedroom when the sudden ringing of her phone jolted her awake. Usually, she found it hard to nap during the day, and if she did manage to drift off, she preferred not to be disturbed until she naturally woke up.
However, the persistent ringing was irritating, and she groaned as she turned in bed, reaching for her phone to cancel the call without even bothering to open her eyes.
After dismissing the call, she tossed her phone aside and tried to return to sleep, but soon enough, the phone rang again.
Frustrated, she picked up the phone without checking the caller ID and replied in a frosty tone, "Who is it?"
Upon hearing the chilly and irritated tone, a light laugh escaped from the other end of the line, accompanied by the words, "Looks like I interrupted my Lia's lovely slumber."
As the soothing and steady voice reached her ears, Zara stirred slightly, propped up against the bedside, and murmured, "Mmm."
Ethan, seated in his study, couldn't help but chuckle at Zara's sleepy acknowledgment of his interruption.
"My apologies, Lia. You can catch a few more Z's after you have a bite to eat. I called to make sure you fill your belly before drifting back off," Ethan said with a calm tone, explaining the reason for his call.
Across the globe, Zara stood out as the only person who could get Ethan to clarify his actions; no one else had the courage to ask him to justify his choices.
Carter and David, who were working nearby, were taken aback to witness their boss, who typically required others to provide explanations, now being the one to offer insights. Usually, no one would dare speak until they received his approval on their projects.
While they recognized that Miss Luna(Zara) was unique, they were still surprised to see their boss hold her in such high esteem, even going so far as to explain the reasons behind his call.
David was less surprised than Carter, who was completely taken aback by his boss's sudden behavior, which seemed almost like he was under some sort of spell.
Zara still looked a bit drowsy, though the sleepiness was fading as she picked up the glass from the side table. "Thanks for the treats," she said.
Without waiting for a response, Zara ended the call and took a sip of water to ease the headache that lingered from her groggy awakening.
Ethan watched the call drop and let out a sigh as he stared at his phone.
Meanwhile, Carter and David exchanged glances, shaking their heads in sympathy for their boss.
It was a rare sight to see him in such a vulnerable position, something they never thought they'd witness.
Once Zara felt more composed, she stepped out of the room and noticed Zoye pacing back and forth in the living room.
As she strolled, she pinched the bridge of her nose, wincing from a headache, and asked, "Why are you pacing back and forth?"
Noticing that Zara was awake, Zoye's face lit up with relief as she said, "Come on, let's eat. I wasn't sure if I should wake you." She then went on to explain.
Zara took a seat at the dining table, and upon seeing the spread before her, she remained silent and began to serve herself.
However, after her first bite, she realized that this was not the typical fare from a hotel or restaurant; it had the essence of a homemade meal.
Despite her lack of cooking knowledge, she could somehow tell the difference between the complex flavors of restaurant food and the simplicity of home-cooked dishes.
However, it couldn't diminish the elegance and appeal of the dishes, which were far from ordinary home-cooked meals, and she recognized that.
While she could spot some similarities between the dish in front of her and what she'd had at restaurants, she kept eating until she was about halfway full.
Zoye was aware that Zara was quite particular about her food since she'd noticed how little she usually ate when they were dining out. So, she kept quiet and focused on her own meal.
At the Oasis mall, Olivia was enjoying a shopping spree with Kylie and Andrew, exploring the luxurious brands with excitement.
While Andrew stepped away to take a phone call, Kylie and Olivia paused to chat, with Olivia wrapping her arms around her mom's.
In the midst of their conversation, they overheard a woman nearby who was speaking angrily on the phone. After a brief scolding, she hung up, revealing a worried and exhausted expression.
Her friend, standing beside her, looked concerned and asked what was wrong. The frustrated woman shook her head and sighed, saying, "I just don't know what to do. It's all because of my daughter. You know we sent her abroad to continue her studies due to some past issues."
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"Of course, everyone is aware of that. Isn't it meant for your daughter's future? What's going on that has you so concerned about the past?"
The woman sighed and replied, "It's because my daughter seems to be losing her way. You know, when she first came back, she was such a sweet and well-behaved girl. But over time, her true self started to emerge. She began going out more often, coming home late, and sometimes she wouldn't come back for a day or two."
The other woman gasped, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. "What do you mean by that? Did your family not mention anything about it?"
"What do you mean we haven't done anything? We've tried every way to communicate with her and help her understand, but she just won't listen. Everyone in the family is really worried about her. Yet, she continues to behave this way, and I'm at a loss for what to do." The woman expressed, her face showing both concern and exhaustion. "She's still gone out to play and has caused some trouble; I just don't know what else might happen."
"Don't worry, everything will work out in time. I think it might be helpful to be stricter with her or consider sending her to a boarding school where she can learn discipline," the other woman suggested, giving her hand a reassuring pat.
Upon hearing this, the woman replied, "My family has suggested the same, but I just can't agree. She's like this now because we sent her away. I'm afraid of what other issues might arise if we let her out of our sight."
"It's important to set boundaries; you can't just let her do anything she pleases. I believe she's acting this way because she thinks her family will always be there to bail her out whenever she encounters a problem. If she comes to realize that her family won't always support her in her wrongdoings, and if she experiences the consequences of that, only then will she truly grasp the situation." This is what the woman's friend shared as they sat a little distance away from Kylie and Olivia.
Usually, Kylie avoids listening to family gossip or getting involved in such discussions, but since they were nearby, she could hear every word exchanged between the two women.