Mrs Van Doren descended the grand staircase and Lyse's gaze fixed on the older woman as she came closer. Mrs. Van Doren, her fake mother-in-law, exuded an air of timeless elegance. Her every movement was graceful, her demeanor poised. Lyse, momentarily forgetting her apprehension, found herself captivated by this woman's aura.
Mrs. Van Doren's sharp voice chided her daughter, Laurie, for being too boisterous.
"Well, they are married and they are bound to be making babies." Laurie pouted, "it's not like I am an innocent child who does not know what happens with married people."
"You better be an innocent child, you are just seventeen." Levi growled and cuffed the back of her head.
The younger woman rolled her eyes, a familiar sibling dynamic playing out. When Mrs Van Doren reached the bottom of the stairs she embraced her son affectionately and then she scolded him about not coming back home as often as he should.
