Chapter 52 A Mother's Regret.

The autumn air was crisp as I walked through the park with Lily, who was excitedly chattering about her new school project. The leaves crunched under our feet, painting the ground in shades of gold and crimson. It was one of those serene moments that made everything else fade away, leaving just the simple joy of being with my daughter. As we made our way back home, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from Ava, asking me to meet her at the house urgently. There was something in her tone that stirred a sense of unease in me. I quickened my pace, my mind racing with possibilities. When we arrived home, Ava was sitting in the living room, her expression a mixture of apprehension and determination. Beside her, looking more haggard and weary than I had ever seen her, was Matilda—my stepmother and Charlotte’s biological mother. My heart skipped a beat. Matilda had always been a contentious figure in our lives. Her manipulations and the way she had poisoned Cyan's mind against Ava and me