?Chapter 1038:


    Trailing just behind, Cruz arrived with worry etched on his face. Gently, he eased M back a step. “Easy, M. Don’t scare her.” With visible reluctance, M finally released her grip.


    Meeting M’s gaze, Linsey noticed her wiping away tears with shaking hands and felt a brief moment of difort.


    Her confusion cleared as she caught sight of Jeffery and Alicia lingering behind the older couple.


    So Dolores had been right—Jeffery had already filled M and Cruz in on her homing.


    It seemed the entire Lawson family had rushed over at dawn, as if afraid she might vanish again without a word.


    Linsey caught Dolores’ yful, knowing look from the corner of her eye.


    M tried to collect herself, but Linsey’s poised calm only made her more anxious.


    Lost in the rush of reunion, M nearly forgot how things had ended four years ago. A hesitant apology slipped out. “Linsey, I’m sorry. Was I too much?”


    M managed a nervous smile, obvious hope shining in her damp eyes as she sought forgiveness.


    Linsey’s brows drew together ever so slightly. Looking into a face that mirrored her own, she found it impossible to be harsh.


    Taking a breath, Linsey stepped back and addressed her with polite reserve. “Mrs. Lawson, is something wrong?”


    Once upon a time, she had felt close enough to M to use her first name.


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    But after the truth came out, Linsey had chosen a more distant form of address.


    Even knowing that the couple in front of her were the parents she had once ached to find did nothing to change her decision.


    M’s lips trembled with emotion, her eyes filling as she fought not to cry in front of everyone.


    “We were overjoyed to hear you’de back, Linsey.” Trying to recover, M offered a hopeful smile and invited, “If you’re free today, would you join us for a meal? We’ve made a reservation. As a family, we thought—”


    The word stuck in her throat. Worrying she had said too much, she hurried to correct herself. “I mean, we’d like to invite you to eat with us, just to talk and catch up.”


    Cruz quietly added his support. “There’s no pressure, Linsey. We won’t ask you to do anything you’re ufortable with. We only hope to share a meal together.”


    He studied Linsey with gentle worry, his eyes red with emotion.


    “You’ve changed a lot in four years. You seem thinner now.”


    Meanwhile, Jeffery and Alicia waited quietly behind the older couple. Their silence was its own kind of statement—they trusted M and Cruz to say what needed to be said.


    Too many people speaking would only make Linsey feel cornered, and none of them wanted to overwhelm her.


    Linsey kept her eyes lowered and declined with gentle formality. “Thank you, but I’ve already made other arrangements for today. I won’t be able to join you for lunch.”


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