Chapter 50: Blending In

Maya  "Hi, I'm Stella," one of the girls introduced herself to me, a warm smile gracing her face. "It's been quite a while since we've had a new member. Welcome to the family!” She enveloped me in a tight hug, and for a moment, I hesitated. I hadn't been hugged by anyone without ulterior motives since my father's death, and the sensation felt foreign, yet oddly comforting.  Reflecting on it, it seemed almost laughable that I had expected genuine affection from my own mother. How could she have given it? I had been hoping for something from the wrong person after all—she was a murderer, and a murderer could never truly love anyone. Despite the hesitation, I managed to push away my reservations and returned the hug to Stella, offering a soft smile. "Thank you, Stella." "Easy there, Stella," Ivy chuckled, playfully pulling her away. "You might scare her." Ivy had been the one accompanying Tyrone last night when he showed me to my room. Her kindness extended to lending me her clothes, insi