In the master bedroom, Kylie sat on the couch, lost in her thoughts while Andrew filled a glass with water for her.
As he glanced at his wife, who appeared preoccupied during their drive, he felt a pang of concern for whatever was troubling her.
He handed her the glass and, with a worried expression, asked, "What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you okay?"
When she saw the worry etched on his face, Kylie's eyes filled with tears as she began to cry, "Oh... Honey, I can't shake the feeling that we haven't been the best parents for Lia."
Taken aback by her sudden emotional outburst, Andrew struggled to find the right words but gently inquired as he embraced her tightly, "What makes you feel that way, love?"
Kylie rested her head against Andrew's chest, tears streaming down her face as she said, "While you were on the phone, I overheard two women discussing one of their daughters. It sounded like..."
Kylie went on to share the details of the conversation she had overheard at the mall.
As Andrew listened, he realized what was troubling Kylie so deeply that it brought her to tears.
"Dear, I can see why you're feeling this way," Andrew said gently, stroking Kylie's hair.
Upon hearing his comforting words, Kylie grasped Andrew's hand tightly and replied with concern, "Honey, if we had any other choice, I would never have agreed to send our daughter away back then."
Andrew's heart ached as he noticed his wife's anxiety. He gently reassured her, saying, "Dear, I understand. I know how deeply you cared for Lia, and at that moment, we felt we had no other choice but to make that decision."
"But I wasn't there for my daughter during her formative years. We couldn't support her when she needed us most. I feel like I failed as a mother," she replied, her voice heavy with regret.
Kylie looked at Andrew, a faint smile breaking through her tear-streaked face. "You know what I thought when I heard that worry in a mother's voice?"
Andrew, sensing her need to share, asked softly, "What was it?"
"Our daughter, despite everything, never complained about our choices or questioned us. Even after being apart for so long, she grew up to be such a wonderful person, never straying from the right path," Kylie said, her smile reflecting a deep, nurturing love.
Noticing the color returning to his wife's cheeks, Andrew gently tucked a strand of hair behind Kylie's ear and smiled, saying, "Of course, Dear. Just remember who her parents are and where she got those genes."
Kylie chuckled softly at his remark. "But we haven't really fulfilled our responsibilities as her parents; we've let Uncle Michael, Aunt Emma, and the others take care of Lia."
"And you know, at first, I didn't think much of it, but now I wonder why our Lia should be working when she could be having fun here." Kylie looked at Andrew, puzzled.
Hearing her thoughts, Andrew also fell into a contemplative silence.
Initially, when Zara mentioned she had some work to do, they assumed she had begun her job and didn't think much of it. They simply wanted her to pursue her passions and allowed her the freedom to do so.
However, reflecting on the idea of Zara working despite having a family to care for seems puzzling.
As she pondered this, Kylie suddenly expressed her concern, asking, "Do you think she feels we won't support her after sending her abroad and wants to prove herself?"
"Absolutely not!" Andrew replied, shaking his head. "Our Lia isn't like that. She knows we'll always be there for her, no matter what."
"Then why do you think she chose to work instead of relaxing at home and enjoying her life?" Kylie asked, looking at Andrew with worry.
Andrew glanced at his concerned wife and sighed, saying, "Dear, how about we wait for Lia to come back? Once she's home, we can have a chat with her."
He wasn't anxious about his daughter because he believed she had always grasped things well, even as a five-year-old, so he felt confident she wouldn't think poorly of her parents.
What truly troubled him was why his beloved daughter chose to work instead of enjoying her luxurious lifestyle, as Kylie had mentioned.
He didn't fear that Lia would misinterpret their intentions; rather, he was curious about her reasons for pursuing a working life.
After hearing Andrew's suggestion, Kylie nodded in agreement and decided to relax in their room after their shopping trip.
In the hotel room at Clover Hill, Zara was engrossed in a book in the living room, completely unaware of the time as Zoye stepped out of her room.
"Excuse me, Miss Luna," Zoye's voice broke the silence, prompting Zara to turn and see her friend fully dressed in black ankle jeans, a white bell-sleeve sweater, and black sneakers, topped off with a beige trench coat.
Zara raised an eyebrow at Zoye, silently inquiring what was going on.
"We should be leaving soon, Madam. Do you remember why we're here?" Zoye asked playfully.
Zara calmly closed her book, looked up, and replied, "Of course I remember. The auction doesn't start until after 8:30, and it's not even 7:45 yet. So, what's the rush?"
"And don't forget, our item is the last one up for bid tonight. There's really no need to hurry," Zara added as she stood up from the couch.
Zoye chuckled playfully, "Oh, I really shouldn't have mentioned the time to someone who's got a personal grudge against being late!" Her teasing voice filled the living room as she observed Zara heading to her room.
While Zara was preparing, her phone buzzed with a new message.
[Heard you're heading out. Stay safe.]
A faint smile crept onto her lips as she read the message. She quickly replied with a brief acknowledgment before putting her phone aside to continue getting ready.
Zoye and Zara finished getting ready and stepped out of the hotel, climbing into the car where Sirius was patiently waiting for them.
As Zara took her seat, Sirius remained quiet, awaiting instructions on their destination.
"Drive to Blossom Park, please," Zara instructed, her gaze fixed ahead.
With a nod, Sirius started the engine, and they set off toward the southern part of the city, where Blossom Park located.