Chapter 190

Annie's POV

"Annie," her voice carried a trace of pride I had rarely heard before,"could you send me a copy of the video you recorded later?"

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I couldn't hide my surprise. The last time we met was when I brought Howard to her place in Brooklyn,and the conversation hadn't ended pleasantly. She had always believed my divorce was a mistake, insisting that "abandoning" Brian was irresponsible.

"I came with Brian," her answer made my heart tighten.

Brian. The little boy who was once my entire world, the child I loved unconditionally, had now become a deep wound. Thinking about what he had done to me-helping Sarah cause my miscarriage,making me lose that unborn child-a familiar pain washed over me again.

I didn't know how to respond, standing there in silence. My mother seemed to sense my discomfort and gently took my hand.

"Don't worry, Annie," she patted my hand reassuringly. "I've accepted your divorce from Philip."

"What?" I looked at her in astonishment. This was completely different from her previous attitude.

"Rather than foreing you to reconcile with Philip, making you continue living with that terrible man, suffering every day..." she paused. "this is better for you now." "You really think so?" I still couldn't belleve my ears.

"Yes," she nodded firmly. "Even if the future is uncertain, at least you're happy now."

"Most importantly, who can guarantee that if you hadn't divorced Philip,your life would definitely be better when you're older?"

Hearing these words from my traditionally conservative mother was almost unbelievable. This was drastically different from her coldness and questioning when she last met Howard.

"As for Brian..." she continued, her voice lowering slightly.

"What about him?" I asked, my heartbeat involuntarily quickening.

"He hurt you, though you never told me exactly what happened."

"Mom,I..."

"No,you don't need to explain," she interrupted. "I know you. Annie.For you to completely give up on him like this, what he did must have been extremely serious. So I won't try to convince you to go back to that environment anymore."

"Mom..." I felt my throat tighten, at a loss for words. Suddenly, I stepped forward like I used to as a child and hugged her tightly.

Her body stiffened momentarily before relaxing, her familiar embrace surrounding me. That comforting scent-a faint lilac perfume mixed with her unique warmth-made me feel as if I had returned to my childhood.This feeling of beingprotected by my mother had become so rare for me as an adult that I unconsciously closed my eyes, deeply inhaling this moment of peace.

"You weren't happy before. I could see it but couldn't help," my mother's voice sounded near my ear, slightly bitter, while her palm gently stroked my back. "That's made me feel guilty for a long time."

I shook my head in her embrace. "It wasn't your fault. I didn't tell you everything because I didn't want you to worry."

"I understand," she nodded gently, her fingers softly combing through my hair, a small gesture she had done since I was little. As we slowly separated, I could see tears glistening in her eyes.

"You mentioned wanting the performance video?" I changed the subject.

"Yes,could you send it to me?"

"I'll send it tonight when I get home."

My mother nodded with a smile. "That would be wonderful." Her gaze moved past me toward the stage. "By the way,is that beautiful little girl the daughter you're caring for now?"

"Yes, that's Lucy Thompson," my voice softened involuntarily.

"She looks lovely."

"She lost her parents in a yacht accident when she was very young."I explained. "Her uncle Howard became her guardian."

I turned to look at Howard, who was carefully adjusting the camera.

My mother's gaze followed Howard's figure, thoughtfully saying."The way he looks at Lucy is special, full of love and protection."

I looked in the direction of her gaze and felt a warmth rising in my chest."He truly loves her. You should see him preparing breakfast for Lucy every morning. No matter how busy the company is, he never misses thnat time with her." A smile formed on my lips. "Sometimes when he works late,he sneaks into Lucy's room to check if she's sleeping well. That kind of attentiveness and care comes from the heart."

My mother's expression softened significantly as she nodded gently. "That kind of love can't be faked."

"And he doesn't just love Lucy as she is now," I continued, my eyes sparkling. "Howard is really thinking about her future. He told Lucy that Howard Technologies will always have a place for her, if she wants it someday."

My mother raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised. "He sounds like a truly responsible person."

"He is," I nodded, my voice becoming even softer. "Seeing him like this made me realize that loving a child isn't just about verbal promises,but about practical actions and long-term planning."

My mother's gaze lingered on my face as she sighed softly."Very different from Philip, isn't it?" Her tone no longer held reproach, only understanding.

I shook my head slightly, remembering Philip's attitude toward Brian."Philip never had any real plans for Brian. He just went with the flow.satisfying him with material things while neglecting emotional guidance."

After a brief silence, my mother's gaze returned to the stage,asking curiously, "Tell me more about Lucy. She seems like a very special little girl."

A smile involuntarily spread across my face. "She really is special! When I first met her, she barely spoke to anyone."

"Was it trauma from losing her parents?" my mother asked,always perceptive about children's emotional states.

"Yes, selective mutism." I nodded. "Initially she only spoke to Howard.then gradually began to trust me. Being able to watch her open up step by step, from barely speaking to now hosting an entire event on stage-the transformation is truly remarkable."

"So you helped her emerge from the shadows?" There was a hint of admiration in my mother's voice.

"It was mutual," I answered softly, feeling moisture gathering at the corners of my eyes. "During my lowest point, Lucy's trust gave me the strength to stand up again. During those days, Philip and Sarah made me believe I was worthless, but Lucy showed me I could still be a good mother,that I deserved to be loved and needed."

My mother reached out and gently held my hand. "I'm glad you found a life that truly suits you."

"Thank you, Mom," I squeezed her hand back, feeling along-absent warmth and understanding.

Thinking about all the moments with Lucy, I couldn't help but smile.

"Howard is also very good to me. We're very happy now," I added.

My mother's gaze softened. "Knowing you're doing well puts my mind at ease,"

"Mom," I took a deep breath, my tone surprisingly calm, "T've grown up.I can take responsibility for my own choices." "I know."

"You don't need to worry about me anymore. Let me live the life I want."

She was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You're right, my daughter."

On stage. Lucy was finishing her hosting duties. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and when her gaze met mine again, she unconsciously smiled and waved at me. I returned the gesture,feeling a surge of warmth in my heart.

I noticed my mother observing our interaction, her eyes revealing a hint of contentment. Perhaps she finally understood that my happiness didn't necessarily have to be built on a traditional family model.

As the event ended, my mother stood up, preparing to leave.

"Are you leaving now?" I asked.

"Yes, I need to pick up Brian," she replied.

After a moment's hesitation, I hugged my mother again. This embrace was more composed than before, but equally emotional. Her familiar scent reminded me of our home in Boston, of those simple, warm days of my childhood. In this brief moment, I felt a long-forgotten sense of security,as if there had never been any disagreements between us, as if time had never passed.

"Thank you for coming, Mom," I said softly, my voice almost buried in her shoulder.

My mother tightened her arms, then gently patted my back. "I'm glad to see you happy,Annie."