My baby's milk mother, my opium

rarely spoke, but whenever they were in the same room, an unspoken tension lingered in the air. Tania trie

o assist with Raka's care. Tania appreciated the trust Clara had placed in her, but it also me

ing up in the living room, Clara

"Have you thought about what you'd like to do once Raka is a bit older? I k

ure beyond the immediate need to survive. The debt, the trauma of losing her home,

t the window. "I haven't really thought abo

t if you ever want to pursue something, whether it's work

ara's generosity. "Thank yo

nd Damian emerged, his expression as stoic as ever. He gla

e," Damian said, his tone busi

ter him. "Damian, why don't you join us for dinner one eve

. There was a moment of silence befor

f the front door closing echoed through the mansion. Ta

always so busy. Sometimes I worry he's forg

concern for her son who seemed so emotionally distant. It was clear that Damian's cold dem

-

l night air helped clear her mind, and she found solace in the peaceful surroundings. The garden wa

of footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Damian appro

heir interactions hung heavy in the air, but this time, there was somethin

an said, his voice lower than usua

e of what to say. "

s eyes, which were usually so guarded, seemed more vulnerable in the

the sudden shift in the conversatio

of making people feel welcome." There was a pause before he adde

didn't trust her. Despite everything she had done, despite her de

ftly, her voice steady but filled with hurt. "I'm just trying

ng her words. For a moment, it seemed like he might re

tone cold once more. "I've seen too many peopl

ght of his words. She understood his mistrust, but it d

ople," Tania whispered,

away, leaving Tania standing alone in the garden, her

-

st Clara, but the weight of Damian's mistrust lingered in the back of her mind. She found herself sec

o leave the nursery after putting Rak

you for a moment?" Clara as

ting room. They sat down, and Clara folded

n, her tone gentle. "I know he can be... difficult to under

unsure of where the c

age wasn't what he wanted, and it's left him with a lot of unresolved feelings. He

mian carried with him. She had seen glimpses of his vulnerability, but h

u, it's not personal," Clara added, her eyes filled with kindness. "

tion. She didn't know what Damian had been through, but she co

this," Tania said quietly.

ania's hand. "You're a good person, Tania. Don

agreement, she couldn't shake the feeling that her presence in the Satr