Chapter 140

Marianne smiled gently, her eyes soft as she patiently responded to Clara one by one. Their conversation flowed naturally, full of laughter-it really did feel like the kind of joy you'd expect after not seeing someone for a long time. Bellamy sat beside Fraser, just across from them. Her gaze drifted across the menu, but her ears couldn't help catching every bit of their lively exchange. It used to be Lydia, now it was Clara. No matter when, Marianne always seemed to click more with other girls, like they were the real mother-daughter pair. She and her actual mother-linked by blood, sure-but it felt like there was an entire galaxy between them. Honestly, though, she didn't want much anymore. Peace was good enough. She had expected this dinner to be filled with awkward silences, but with Clara around, it turned out way more cheerful than she'd imagined. Halfway through the meal, Marianne suddenly turned to Bellamy and asked, "How's the wedding planning going?" Bellamy paused for a secon