"Thank you, baby. I love it," she said, squeezing me affectionately. "Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving."
She walked right past Alexis and Ulrich like they weren’t even there.
Of course, my mom had picked up on what happened. She always did. But she didn’t interfere, she respected my decisions, whether at home or at work.
At dinner, Alexis barely spoke. For once, she just focused on doing her job. No unnecessary opinions, no complaints, just silence. Exactly how it should’ve been from the start.
Of course, the expensive bottle of wine I had bought for the celebration had disappeared, swapped out for something from the house stock. I didn’t say anything, but I noticed.
Dinner was mostly quiet, aside from the occasional clink of silverware and my mother’s warm laughter. That was all that mattered, I just wanted her to enjoy her birthday.
Then Spencer finally arrived.
"Stella, Mom, sorry I’m late," he said, walking in with a neatly wrapped gift and a bouquet of flowers. He handed them to my mother with a smile before sliding into the seat beside me like he belonged there.