hapter 133 Her Moments to Be Free
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When she heard that, Maia’s brow twitched slightly, a flicker of hesitation surfacing in her heart.
Caroline noticed her silence and gently added, “If you’re willing, how about helping me with the food deliveries? And don’t go home tonight. Just stay at my place.”
She had been planning to open a shop soon, but there was still a ton of prep work to do, and she was too busy to keep delivering meals.
Even after the shop opened, she’d need someone she could count on. And Maia–well, Maia would be perfect.
Maia thought it over for a long time before finally nodding in agreement.
For years, she had felt like her life was suffocating–trapped, small, and hopeless. But she’d never found a way to escape that house.
Maybe this was her moment. Maybe it was time to follow Caroline’s lead and start living life on her own
terms.
As Caroline drove the scooter with Maia riding behind her, she explained everything she needed to know about food delivery.
By the time they reached the Galaxy Bay Residences, she had finished talking.
The sky had already been swallowed by night, and the neighborhood was aglow with neon lights, sparkling like stars.
“Wow! This place is beautiful,” Maia said in awe.
Waterford Gardens had already seemed like a fancy neighborhood, but this place? This place felt even more upscale.
Caroline just smiled without saying a word. When she first moved in, she’d thought the same.
If Blake hadn’t given her a helping hand when she’d hit rock bottom, she would’ve never been able to afford a place like this.
Once inside, Caroline headed straight for the kitchen to warm up the leftovers.
Meanwhile, Maia wandered through the apartment from the living room to the bedrooms, quietly taking everything in.
When Caroline came out carrying the dishes, Maia looked at her with wide eyes and asked, “This whole place … you live here all by yourself?”
On the way over, Caroline had mentioned renting a place alone and doing deliveries. Maia had assumed it was a small studio–maybe 300 square feet tops. But this? This was huge, and the decor looked high–end.
Caroline laughed softly and shook her head. “I used to live alone. But now, it’s you and me.”
Once all the food was on the table, the two of them sat down to eat.
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Chapter 133 Her Moments to Be Free
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She set her spoon down and pulled out her phone. The name flashing on the screen made her face drop and her eyes fill with dread.
Caroline caught her expression. “Your mom?”
Maia gave a tiny nod, lips pressed tightly together.
Caroline’s brow furrowed, and she suggested, “I think you should leave it for now. Let her stew a few days.”
It wasn’t hard to guess what Ruth wanted to say.
And if Maia picked up now, she’d only fuel her mother’s anger. Odds were, the rest of dinner would be ruined.
Maia was afraid. Afraid her mother would scream at her again.
But not picking up–that was scary too. She worried Ruth would be even more furious.
She just sat there, staring blankly at the screen until the call ended on its own.
Seeing this, Caroline gently took the phone from her hand and turned it off.
She placed it on the coffee table and said calmly, “You didn’t hang up–your phone did it for you. So stop blaming yourself. Now come on, eat.”
Caroline knew Maia’s fear didn’t come from nowhere–it came from years of being yelled at, hit, and belittled.
But if Maia could just hold firm and stop being so afraid, she’d heal. Slowly but surely.
The next morning, Caroline cooked breakfast, then sent Maia out on her very first delivery.
Since Maia was new, Caroline carried the neatly packed meals downstairs herself, placing them carefully in the insulated box on the scooter’s backseat. She gave Maia a few more tips and reminders before letting her
- go.
She watched the scooter disappear into the distance before heading back upstairs.
But the second she stepped through the front door, her phone rang.
Maia. A spike of panic hit her. Something must’ve gone wrong. “Maia? What happened?” she asked quickly.
She had only been gone a few minutes–she probably hadn’t even made it past the main gate yet. Did she crash?
“The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. She backed out the door, locked it behind her, and hurried downstairs to check on things.
Her worry deepened until Maia’s small voice finally came through the phone. “A few boxes tipped over. I’m
so sorry.”
Caroline heard the guilt in her voice and responded right away, “That’s not your fault. It’s your first day! Are you hurt?”
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Chapter 133 Her Moments to Be Free
But before Maia could answer, Caroline spotted her in the distance.
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To her surprise, the scooter was still upright. Only a few meal Boxes had spilled, their contents scattered on the ground.
Then she saw Helen standing nearby. Caroline froze for a moment. That explained it.
Helen noticed her too, and something clicked in her mind.
“Caroline,” she said, her voice laced with suspicion, “did you put Maia up to this? Did you convince her to leave the Somertons?”
Last night, her mom had already called to complain that Maia had run off after just a few days–no one to cook, no one to clean.
。
