Vanessa was shocked and could hardly believe that the very person who had always doted on her was now the first to sever ties. “Mom, you…”

Sophia closed her eyes, seemingly exhausted and no longer wanting to see her.

“Pack your things and move out today. Don’t come back, for anything or nothing.”

Sophia often seemed gentle and reasonable, a person of little temper. However, once she made a decision, she never regretted it.

That day, she’d visited the Reynolds’ house, to put it selfishly, to see how Phoebe was getting along with the family and how her marital relationship with Theodore was.

If the marriage was unhappy, Vanessa convincing herself to interfere would feel like less of a sin. However, what she saw was Theodore, radiantly happy.

She was a respected educator, a university professor, a beacon for her students. Yet now her own daughter was on the brink of becoming ‘the other woman,’ threatening someone’s marriage, and she felt powerless to stop it. The only option she could think of was to force her daughter to choose between love and family.

Mr. Fitzroy helped his wife to her feet. Both had gained many gray hairs due to their recent worries over Vanessa, their silhouettes markedly aged.

After a few steps, Mr. Fitzroy said, “Vanessa, remember, any choice you make now is yours to live with, no regrets in the future.”

After saying his piece, he supported his wife and entered the modest house without looking back, leaving Vanessa kneeling outside alone as a late storm loomed, the dark clouds finally bursting into a deluge.

The heavy raindrops battered Vanessa, drenching her as she knelt for a long while before bowing her head toward the main house three times in farewell. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for being such a disappointment. Please forgive me. I just can’t live without him,” Vanessa pleaded, then stumbled to her feet. Ignoring her luggage, she clutched her purse and dashed into the rain.

Inside, Sophia stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as her daughter disappeared into the storm without looking back. Shutting her eyes, she felt both disappointment and heartache.

Her husband, Mr. Fitzroy, was right behind her, drawing the curtains closed. “Stop watching. You have to take care of yourself.”

Leaning into her husband’s embrace, inhaling the faint scent of pine, Elaine whispered, “Did I make a mistake?”

He patted her shoulder gently. “Don’t overthink it.”

Sophia gave a wry smile. “I taught Vanessa to never give up once she set her sights on something, not to bow to a thousand trials and tribulations. However, she never applied it to her education or career, but she sure did with love.” As Mr. Fitzroy guided her toward the bed, he said, “Even the best teacher sometimes has a student who takes a different path. It’s not your fault.”

“In my life, I prided myself on teaching and nurturing others, never leading them astray. Yet, here I am, having guided my own daughter down this road. I feel dishonored.”

“Soph, enough with the self-blame. Your sickness stems from worry. The doctor advised you to be at peace. Let Vanessa make her own way. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Sophia’s lips moved as if to speak, but she remained silent in the end.

The city was cloaked in a dim veil of rain. Phoebe wrapped up her work, glanced at the time on her wristwatch, and noted it was past the end of the day. No wonder the outside was eerily quiet.

She stretched, tidied her desk, scooped up her purse and umbrella, and proceeded to leave the office, taking the elevator down.

Stepping out of the elevator, she saw Theodore by the company’s entrance, just as a drenched woman hurled herself into his arms. The collision sent him staggering but he steadied himself and embraced her.

Phoebe’s hand, reaching for her umbrella, paused as she recognized the woman clinging to Theodore – if it wasn’t Vanessa, who else could it be?

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