Chapter 168

Haley’s POV: Life has a strange way of balancing joy and pain. On one side, my career was finally shining brighter than I ever dreamed. My comics, the little stories I once drew on scraps of paper, were now published worldwide. Fans sent me letters. They waited eagerly for each chapter. I had an assistant, Erin, who often teased me but worked hard by my side. Logan supported me in everything, and the kids were my biggest cheerleaders. But on the other side… I knew my mother’s time was running out. The thought lingered at the back of my mind every day. No matter how many awards I won, no matter how many books I signed, I couldn’t forget that the woman I had finally reunited with after years of longing was slipping away from me. It was one of those bright mornings in the office. Erin was sitting at her desk, going through fan mail. “Mom, you’re trending again!” she said playfully, waving her phone. I looked up from my sketch tablet and laughed. “Don’t call me mom. You’re younger than me.