Saturday arrived with clear skies and a rare sense of freedom.
For the first time in what felt like weeks, Liora didn’t wake up to lessons, schedules, or endless reminders about becoming someone she wasn’t.
She woke up to silence.
And surprisingly, she liked it.
The estate was unusually calm that morning.
Most of the staff seemed occupied elsewhere, and Adrian had disappeared before breakfast for one of his countless meetings.
Liora wasn’t about to complain.
After spending so much time inside the estate, she desperately needed fresh air.
Real air.
Not the perfectly maintained gardens surrounding the mansion.
Actual life.
Actual people.
So after finishing her classes at Eastbridge University, she ignored the waiting chauffeur and decided to walk.
The afternoon sun warmed her shoulders as she made her way through the city.
Students rushed past her.
Cars filled the streets.
Vendors called out from food stalls.
For the first time in days, she felt normal.
Or at least close to it.
Eventually, she stopped in front of a familiar glass building.
The café.
Her old workplace.
A strange wave of nostalgia hit her.
Only a few months ago, this place had been her entire world.
Now it felt like a lifetime ago.
Taking a breath, she stepped inside.
The bell above the door chimed softly.
Immediately, several heads turned.
And then came the reactions.
“Liora?”
Amira nearly dropped the tray she was carrying.
A wide grin spread across her face.
“Look who’s finally alive.”
Liora laughed.
“It’s been weeks.”
“Exactly.”
Amira hurried over and pulled her into a hug.
“You disappeared.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You look expensive.”
Liora choked.
“What?”
Amira stepped back and pointed accusingly.
“No, seriously.”
She gestured toward Liora’s outfit.
“Look at you.”
Several of the other workers turned to examine her.
One of them whistled dramatically.
“She definitely married a billionaire.”
Liora rolled her eyes.
“I did not.”
“You look like you did.”
The entire café laughed.
Even Liora couldn’t help smiling.
But as the conversation continued, she noticed something strange.
People listened when she spoke now.
Not because she was louder.
Because she carried herself differently.
Her posture had changed.
Her confidence had changed.
Even the way she spoke had changed.
The realisation unsettled her.
She hadn’t noticed it happening.
Yet here it was.
Visible to everyone else.
The lessons were working.
More than she wanted to admit.
“You okay?”
Amira’s voice pulled her back while they both sat at one of the tables.
Liora blinked.
“Yeah.”
“You got quiet.”
Liora smiled.
“Just thinking.”
Amira studied her for a moment.
Then nodded.
Whatever she saw seemed to satisfy her.
“Well, don’t become too rich to visit us.”
“I’ll try my best.”
And for a little while, everything felt wonderfully normal.
By late afternoon, she found herself sitting in a park several districts away.
Children ran across open fields.
Couples walked along winding paths.
Birds chirped from nearby trees.
The entire place buzzed with life.
Her siblings were no exception.
Noah and Clara had disappeared almost immediately after arriving.
Liora could see them in the distance.
Running.
Laughing.
Arguing about something.
Then laughing again.
Some things never changed.
Beside her, her mother watched them fondly.
“They’ve been excited all week.”
Liora smiled.
“I can tell.”
“They missed you.”
The smile faded slightly.
“I missed them, too.”
Her mother reached over and squeezed her hand.
The simple gesture warmed her chest.
For a while, they sat quietly together.
Watching Noah attempt to impress a group of boys his age.
Watching Clara loudly embarrass him.
Watching him pretend he wasn’t related to her.
Liora laughed.
Her mother laughed, too.
Then Clara suddenly came sprinting toward them.
Eyes shining.
“Mum!”
Her mother immediately narrowed her eyes.
That tone never led anywhere good.
“What is it?”
“There are snacks.”
“No.”
Clara blinked.
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“I don’t need to.”
“But—”
“No.”
Clara groaned dramatically.
Then turned toward her sister.
“Liora.”
Liora immediately knew where this was going.
Their mother sighed.
“No.”
Liora smiled.
Clara’s eyes widened.
Hope returned instantly.
Beside her, Noah suddenly appeared from nowhere.
Conveniently.
Very conveniently.
Liora laughed.
“You weren’t even here a second ago.”
“I heard snacks.”
“Of course you did.”
She reached into her bag and handed them some money.
The siblings practically lit up.
Their mother looked horrified.
“Liora.”
“Hmmn?”
“They don’t need—”
“They’re children, Mom.”
“They’ll get spoiled.”
“They deserve it.”
Clara immediately hugged her.
Noah attempted to maintain dignity.
Failed.
Then both disappeared before anyone could change their minds.
Her mother watched them leave.
Then shook her head.
“You’ll spoil them.”
“They are my siblings.”
“Exactly.”
The two women shared a smile.
Then silence settled between them.
A comfortable silence.
At least for a moment.
Eventually, her mother spoke.
“You’ve changed.”
Liora stiffened slightly.
Not again.
Everyone kept saying that.
“Have I?”
Her mother nodded.
“Yes.”
The answer came gently.
Without judgment.
Without accusation.
Which somehow made it worse.
Her mother studied her profile.
“You carry yourself differently.”
Liora looked away.
Toward the playground.
Toward Noah and Clara.
Towards anything else except her mother.
“School’s been keeping me busy.”
“Mhm.”
The sound carried enough disbelief to make Liora wince.
A few moments passed.
Then her mother asked quietly:
“Are you happy?”
The question caught her off guard.
Completely.
Liora opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because she honestly didn’t know.
Was she happy?
Her family was doing better.
Clara was healthy.
Noah was back in school.
The bills were paid.
Yet…
Nothing about her life felt simple anymore.
“I think so.”
It was the closest thing to the truth she could manage.
Her mother nodded slowly.
Then surprised her.
“Whatever is happening…”
Liora’s heart immediately skipped.
“…don’t carry it alone.”
Silence followed.
Liora stared at her.
Because somehow…
somehow…
Mothers always knew.
Not the details.
Never the details.
But they always knew when something was wrong.
Liora forced a smile.
“Everything’s okay.”
The lie felt weak.
Her mother didn’t call her out.
Didn’t push.
Didn’t ask questions.
She simply squeezed her hand again.
Evening arrived too quickly.
Soon it was time to leave.
Liora hailed a cab.
Her mother immediately protested.
“We can take a bus.”
“No.”
“Liora.”
“Mom.”
The look she received could have melted steel.
Liora remained firm.
Five minutes later, her mother finally gave up.
The cab arrived.
Noah climbed inside first.
Clara waved enthusiastically through the window.
Her mother offered one final smile.
Then the vehicle pulled away.
Liora stood on the sidewalk watching it disappear.
A strange ache settled inside her chest.
Home.
Family.
Normal life.
It all felt further away than ever.
The sound of an engine interrupted her thoughts.
A sleek black luxury vehicle rolled smoothly to the curb.
Liora didn’t even need to look at the emblem.
She already knew.
The rear passenger door opened.
The chauffeur stepped out.
“Miss Bennett.”
She sighed.
Of course.
The chauffeur opened the rear door.
And there he was.
Adrian.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly composed.
Looking mildly irritated.
As usual.
Liora climbed inside.
The door closed behind her.
“Good evening.”
Adrian looked up from the document in his hand.
“You’re late.”
She stared.
“Hello to you too.”
“I’ve been waiting twenty-three minutes.”
Liora blinked.
“You counted?”
“Unfortunately.”
A laugh escaped before she could stop it.
Adrian looked mildly offended.
“I fail to see what’s amusing.”
“Everything.”
The car pulled away from the curb.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The city lights passed beyond the tinted windows.
Eventually, Adrian glanced toward her.
“How was your family?”
The question surprised her.
Not because he asked.
Because he sounded genuine.
Liora smiled softly.
A real smile.
The kind she rarely gave anymore.
“Good.”
Adrian nodded.
She looked out the window.
Then added quietly:
“Normal.”
Something shifted in his expression.
Subtle.
Almost impossible to notice.
He turned his gaze toward the passing city.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian said quietly:
“Don’t underestimate normal.”
The words lingered in the car long after he spoke them.
And for reasons she couldn’t explain…
They made her sad.
*****
Back at the estate, darkness had already fallen.
Liora entered through the grand entrance hall.
The mansion was quiet.
Elegant.
Impressive.
And somehow lonely.
As she climbed the staircase, her gaze drifted toward the enormous portrait hanging above the landing.
Elara.
Watching over everything.
As always.
Liora stopped.
Studied the painting.
The confident smile.
The bright eyes.
The effortless grace.
Everyone talked about how loved Elara had been.
How admired she was.
How extraordinary.
But standing there now…
Liora found herself wondering something different.
Had she been happy?
Had she ever gotten to spend afternoons in parks with her siblings?
Had she ever sat beside her mother on a worn wooden bench?
Had she ever lived a life that belonged entirely to her?
Or had she spent her whole life trapped inside a beautiful cage?
For the first time…
Liora didn’t feel jealous of Elara.
She felt sorry for her.
And somehow, that realisation followed her all the way back to her room.