Chapter 109

~Athena

I glanced at Richard after she had spoken, and he nodded his head, urging me to go ahead and hear what she has to say.

"Your mother is broken, Athena. Please be careful with your words," he advised through a mind link. I flashed him a look, and he arched his brow and shrugged as if saying, "I said my piece, do what you may with it."

I sighed and walked down the path leading to the garden with my mum. We walked on in silence, tension thick in the air as I didn't know what to say to her. I had already made up my mind to forgive her for what she had done to me, but I can't promise I would forget; the scars will take time to heal.

I looked up at the scorching sun and then at my mum, who was silently walking beside me, looking a bit lost in thought.

"Should we find some shade?" I asked.

"Huh?... Yes, please, that would be fine," she replied, as though it took her a while to assimilate my words.

I spotted a large tree with good shade and pointed towards it. "Let's sit there."

She no