Inside the shop, Lia stepped through the door, her brows furrowed as she spotted Ry muttering to himself.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Ry looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Just had the weirdest customer," he replied, shaking his head. "Young, handsome guy. Looks like the type to cause trouble just by walking into a room."
Lia raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Trouble, huh?"
Ry rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that look. I'm serious! He bought two Venus flytraps. I mean, who does that? Most people come in here looking for lilies or roses, maybe even sunflowers. But a Venus flytrap? Whoever he's giving those to has a strange sense of humour."
Lia couldn't help but agree. It was an odd choice. But as she walked past Ry, her thoughts were elsewhere. She went straight to the locked box at the back of the store, pulling out a set of keys to retrieve the flower food they needed for the display flowers.
Meanwhile, in the car, Rhys's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his lips curling into a sly smile as he read the message.
"Drive," he ordered the driver, his voice filled with a new determination.
He quickly dialled the number attached to the message, his fingers moving with practiced ease. Back at the shop, Ry was already heading out, ready for his lecture.
"I'll be back after class," he called to Lia, who waved him off with a sweet smile.
Ten minutes later, the little bell above the shop door jingled again. Lia, engrossed in her work, didn't look up at first.
"Welcome to Nature's Blo—" Her voice faltered as her eyes finally registered the person standing in front of her. The words caught in her throat as she froze in place.
There, standing in the doorway, was the one person she had been thinking about for years. The one person she had prayed would return to her, the one she had missed during the darkest days of her life.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to comprehend the sight in front of her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, too afraid to believe it was real.
"Mom?" The word slipped from her lips like a whisper, filled with disbelief.
And there, standing before her, was her mother. The woman she had longed to see again, now gazing back at her with an unreadable expression.
***************************************************************************
For the next two days, Lia felt like she was trapped in a fog. She had a lot on her mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else. Between her shifts at the flower shop and her lectures at university, she tried to maintain a facade of normalcy, but it was painfully obvious to anyone who knew her that something was wrong.
Ranye and Isla were giving her space, pretending not to notice her distraction. But she could see the concern in their eyes, the unspoken questions they weren't asking. It pained her to keep them in the dark, but the truth was a mountain she didn't know how to climb. She had something important to tell them—something that would change everything—but every time she tried to find the words, they got stuck in her throat.
It was a quiet evening when it all finally came to a head. The shop was closing for the night, and Lia was absentmindedly helping Isla lock up. She wasn't paying attention, and in her distracted state, she slammed the door to the storage cabinet on her finger.
"Ow!" she yelped, loud enough to send both Rhys and Isla running over in a panic.
"Lia! What happened?" Isla rushed to her side, her hands already moving to inspect the injured finger.
"It's just a little cut," Lia said, her voice strained but soft. Isla was already grabbing the first aid
kit, gently cleaning the blood from Lia's finger. Rhys, standing nearby, was uncharacteristically quiet, though his concerned gaze never left her.
"I'll wrap it," he said, grabbing the bandages and plaster, his fingers working with quick precision. He carefully bandaged the wound, his touch gentle. Despite the small injury, the air between them was thick with unspoken tension.
Once the shop was locked and secured, the three of them walked home in silence. Even dinner was subdued, a far cry from their usual lighthearted conversations. The weight of whatever was bothering Lia hung over the room like a cloud.
After dinner, Lia collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the television without really seeing anything. Isla had had enough.
"Okay, this is ridiculous," she said, turning to face Lia, her patience clearly wearing thin. "What's going on?"
Ranye, who had been quietly sipping his tea, immediately sat up straighter. He'd been worried about Lia for days now, but like Isla, he hadn't wanted to push too hard. They knew each other so well, and this sudden silence from Lia was unlike her. Usually, they shared everything—there were no secrets between them. So whatever was bothering her must be something big.
Lia sighed deeply, looking at them both with eyes full of exhaustion. She knew they deserved the truth. They'd always been there for her, and she trusted them more than anyone else in the world. But how could she possibly explain what was happening? How could she make them understand?
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
"I'm moving out," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Ranye and Isla stared at her, their faces blank with shock. For a moment, it seemed like they hadn't even registered her words.
"What are you talking about?" Ry was the first to react, standing up and moving closer to her on the couch. His expression was one of disbelief, like he couldn't process what she'd just said. "Moving out? What do you mean, moving out?"
Lia bit her lip, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. "I'm moving out of the house," she repeated, her voice softer this time, but the words were sinking in now.
"Are we not treating you well enough?" Isla asked, a note of hurt creeping into her voice. She sat back in her chair, looking at Lia like she was trying to understand something that didn't make sense.
Lia felt her heart twist. "Of course not, Mom. You and Ry have treated me better than anyone ever has. You've been my family."
"Then why are you leaving?" Ry asked, his voice cracking slightly. "If we're treating you well, why would you suddenly move out?"
"Exactly!" Isla chimed in, echoing Ry's confusion. She crossed her arms, her face a mix of sadness and frustration.
Lia pressed her lips together, trying to keep the tears at bay. She had been dreading this conversation, but now that it was happening, it was even harder than she imagined. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the truth.
"My mother came to the shop two days ago."
Ry and Isla's reactions were immediate. Both of them stood up at the same time, their faces mirroring the same shocked expression.
"What?" Ry's voice was a mixture of disbelief and anger.
"Your mother?" Isla asked, her voice rising with concern. She immediately rushed over to Lia, sitting beside her and grabbing her hand. "Are you okay? What did she want?"
"How did she even find you?" Ry's voice was tight, his mind racing to piece together this unexpected development.
Lia shook her head, feeling overwhelmed by their questions. "I don't know," she said quietly. "She just… showed up. After Ry left for his afternoon lecture, she walked into the shop like it was nothing."
"And what did she want?" Ry asked, his voice softening slightly as he sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of Lia.
Lia swallowed hard. This was the moment. She had to tell them. She couldn't keep it inside anymore.
"She sold me off to someone," Lia said, her voice trembling. "She wants me to move in with them."
The room went completely silent. Ry and Isla stared at her, their eyes wide with disbelief, as if they hadn't heard her correctly.
"What?" Isla was the first to break the silence, her voice almost a whisper. "She… sold you?"
"She can't do that!" Ry said, his voice rising in anger. He stood up, pacing back and forth in the small living room. "That's insane! She doesn't have the right to do that."
"She can," Lia said, her voice steady but sad. "She already signed the papers. I'm still a minor, so I don't have a say in the matter. Legally, I belong to them now."
"Legally?" Isla asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "There's no way this is legal. It can't be."
Lia shook her head. "It doesn't matter. There's no proof that it's illegal, and you know my mother. She's covered her tracks. Besides, I was never legally adopted by you guys, so there's nothing you can do. It would be too risky."
Ry's face was a mask of frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn between wanting to protect Lia and knowing his hands were tied.
"Who is this person?" Ry finally asked, his voice hard.
"I don't know," Lia admitted. "I've never met them. But my mother said I was supposed to leave yesterday. I begged her to give me one more day so I could tell you both and say goodbye."
Isla's face crumpled in sadness. She sat down next to Lia, pulling her into a tight hug, her voice breaking as she whispered, "Oh, Lia…"
Ry stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides. He had always been Lia's protector, the one who would do anything to keep her safe. But now, standing there, knowing he couldn't stop this, it felt like the ground was slipping out from under him.
"You don't have to go," Ry said suddenly, his voice raw. "We'll find a way to keep you safe. I'll do whatever it takes."
Lia shook her head, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "I can't, Ry," she whispered. "If I don't go, my mother will make trouble for you. She told me—she warned me. She said if I tried to involve you or Isla, she would accuse you both of kidnapping me. She'd ruin your lives. I can't let that happen."
Isla pulled back from the hug, her eyes wide with horror. "She actually said that?"
Lia nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "She's capable of it. You know how she is. She's already lied to my father and made money off him. She wouldn't think twice about doing the same to you two."
Ry was shaking his head, still pacing the room, but he couldn't argue with her. Deep down, he knew Lia was right. Her mother was dangerous, manipulative. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.
"Please don't worry about me," Lia said softly, trying to force a smile through her tears. "I'm moving in with a family that doesn't have any kids. They're adopting me because they want a daughter. I'm sure they'll treat me well."
Isla's heart broke at the sight of Lia trying to be brave. "But what if they don't?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion. "What if they're just as terrible as your mother?"
Lia shook her head, wiping more tears away. "If they're mean to me, I'll come back. I promise. I'll find a way to let you know."
Isla hugged her tightly again, squeezing her so hard it felt like she was trying to hold onto her forever. "If they hurt you, I'll do everything in my power to get you back. I'll find a way to adopt you legally. You belong here, with us."
Lia's tears came harder now, her heart aching with every word. If only things could be that simple. But her mother's voice still echoed in her mind—her threats, her cruel promises. Lia knew she had no choice.
"I'll miss you both so much," Lia whispered, her voice breaking as she clung to them. "You're the only family I've ever had. I'll never forget you."
The three of them stayed like that, huddled together, sharing tears and promises. None of them wanted to let go, but they all knew that in the morning, everything would change.
And there was nothing they could do to stop it.