Tangled in Desire

The next morning, Zara headed over to her mother's condo, a familiar excitement bubbling within her. It was the day for their mother-daughter outing, a week she'd been looking forward to. With her upcoming business trip just a week away, they'd decided to make the most of their time together—Zara planned to stay at the condo until she left, knowing she'd be gone for at least two or three months. The thought of spending all that time with Xavier, day in and day out, made her sigh as she thought, At least I'll have these precious days with my family before dealing with him nonstop.

As she pulled up in front of the condo, Zara could already see her mother moving around in the kitchen through the window. She barely waited for the car to stop before hopping out and racing toward the door. The minute she stepped inside, she ran to her mother and wrapped her in a tight hug, like a child who hadn't seen her in years. She hadn't seen her mom and sister since they visited her in the hospital, and nothing felt better than the warmth of her mother's embrace.

"Ah, my love," her mother greeted, hugging her just as tightly. "You act like you haven't seen me in ages."

"Well, it feels that way!" Zara laughed, pulling back to look at her mother's face. The love of my life, she thought with a smile. Her mother was her world, and Zara had no doubt she'd do anything for her, even if it meant putting her own life on the line. The bond they shared was one of a kind, and it filled her with a sense of purpose and love that was unbreakable.

As she looked around, she saw her mother was already busy with their favorite dishes, expecting her arrival. "Need any help?" Zara offered, moving to the kitchen counter.

"Of course. Just don't eat half of it before it gets to the table," her mom teased.

Zara laughed and began to help her mother with the meal prep, slicing vegetables and chatting about everything and nothing. It was these small, simple moments that she cherished—no grand gestures or big events, just the warmth of family. Soon, they had the dishes almost ready, and the condo was filled with the delicious aroma of their favorite recipes.

Just then, the door opened, and her sister Jade walked in, looking exhausted from her day of lectures. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Zara, and the two sisters exchanged a teasing smile.

"Hey, you!" Jade called out, dropping her bag by the door.

"Hey, yourself!" Zara shot back, pulling her sister into a hug.

Dinner was filled with laughter, stories, and memories. They talked about everything that had happened lately, Jade telling funny stories from her classes while Zara shared the sanitized, slightly exaggerated version of her work drama, leaving out certain intense details—like Xavier. As usual, the sisters found themselves in a light-hearted argument, this time over the lyrics to a song playing in the background.

"I'm telling you, that's not the line!" Zara insisted, barely containing her grin.

"Oh, please! You're the one who always gets it wrong," Jade shot back, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation.

Their mother watched them with a smile, shaking her head. "Some things never change," she said warmly, watching her daughters bicker like they were kids again.

As the evening wound down, Zara felt a profound sense of gratitude. She knew this time with her family would be the perfect recharge before facing the whirlwind of work and travel that awaited her. Whatever challenges lay ahead, tonight reminded her of what really mattered.