Chapter 131

Lucy’s POV: At the small tea pavilion on the second floor, Miley was the last to arrive. Scarlett now occupied the seat of honor. Having studied tea ceremony, she began preparing tea for us. She bent her head, concentrating on brewing. I sat beside her, my eyes filled with tender admiration for this rare glimpse of my daughter’s elegance. My daughter was so accomplished, yet she had to hide like an undocumented thief. As a mother, I had endured ten years of heartache and guilt. All of this was that person’s fault. Only by dealing with that person sooner rather than later would my daughter finally return to normal. Mason sat on the single sofa, his tall frame leaning against the European-style backrest. His long fingers held a cigarette as his dark eyes swept indifferently toward Miley. Under his gaze, Miley seemed uneasy. She lowered her head and silently walked over to sit on the other single sofa. From start to finish, she never looked up again. Her posture was submissive, as if our