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The two officers headed for the door, one of the his hat to Elora

“Apologies for the , ma’am”

“It’s no trouble,” Elora purred, casting a victorious stare at the guard, who pouted as he took his seat once again

The three of the their way back to the hotel It was late, and Jerry was stifling yawn after yawn as they took the elevator back to the luxury suite Sadiq had paid for Steph sent out a silent thank you to hirateful she was for how the whole situation had played out

“Well,to bed,” Jerry declared, waving absently as he headed straight for his bedroom and closed the door

Elora and Steph locked stares for a moment As late as it was, and as tired as she should have been after a day in the sun with Mehdi, Steph’s heart was racing, and there was no way she would be able to get to sleep anytime soon

“Would you like some tea?” Elora asked

It was an olive branch Steph could see that, and she decided it would be best to take it A long, honest conversation with her mother was more than a little overdue

“I would Thank you,” she said

“Sit down I’ll put the kettle on”

Steph sank into one of the large sofas as her mother filled a pot ater and turned on a burner in their ss before joining Steph on the sofa

“I feel like I have soan, and Steph re her to speak “I never had a mother who really listened to me I was to do what I was told, when I was told, and that was the end of it It was the reason Iwas a tad rocky, it became one of the best decisions of my life I’d always secretly wished it had been my decision”

Steph’s eyebrows narrowed in confusion “Then why did you putit wasn’t my choice?”

“Because when you’re ato protect your child You have fought ood for you all your life You didn’t like vegetables as a child You didn’t like s Do you regret those decisions?”