Dahlia's POV
I stood frozen, staring at Soren standing in the doorway. My mind went completely blank. What was he doing here?
Only when Soren took the cake from my hands and disappeared back into the house did reality crash back into me.
Lorena grabbed my arm, her fingernails digging into my skin. "Are you seriously messing with me right now?"
"I had no idea he was coming," I whispered frantically, keeping my voice low.
If I had known Soren would show up, I never would have gone through all that trouble hiding from my mother, terrified she might discover our arrangement.
Meanwhile, Diane seemed completely unfazed by his presence, acting as though nothing unusual had happened at all.
Lorena was right about one thing. If Diane had chosen to let go of the past, why should I keep dwelling on it?
What difference would telling her the truth make anyway?
Still, something heavy settled in my chest, a persistent ache that wouldn't go away.
