Chapter 168


    Lena''s eyes shimmered with tears as she asked, "Really?"


    "Of course, it''s true," came theforting reply from Regina. "You''ve been part of the Harrison


    family for eighteen solid years. Could Josefina even hold a candle to that? Like they say, ''Familiarity


    breeds fondness.'' That''s eighteen years of countless hellos. You tell me, doesn''t that count for


    something?"


    Lena let the words soothe her, feeling her emotions gradually settle into calm.


    Regina, having dispensed herfort, returned to her room. She pulled out her phone and tapped


    out a quick text. [Lena''s not doing great over here. Oliver doesn''t even spare her a nce.]


    Once the message was sent, she went about her night as if nothing had happened, washing up


    before slipping into bed.


    ...


    After her evening shower, Josefina was just stepping out when there was a knock at the door. She


    swung it open and found Hattie stepping inside. "Josie, I thought you might still be up and wanted to


    check on you."


    That loving gaze was hard to resist. Plus, Josefina cherished any chance to chat a bit more with


    Hattie. There were things she wanted to ask her, too.


    Sitting down together, Hattie turned to Josefina and said, "Josie, how are things going with Oliver? I


    can tell he''s quite taken with you. As long as he treats you right and you''re happy, we can wee


    him with open arms."


    Josefina blushed, looking down. "Oliver and I are just friends."


    Hattie chuckled teasingly, "What kind of friends might that be?"


    Caught off guard, Josefina fell silent, prompting Hattie to continue, "Since you''ve been back home,


    is there anything around the house you''d like to change? Speak up, darling. I''m open to all your


    requests."


    "It''s all good, really."


    Hattie smiled warmly at her bashful daughter, reaching out to hold her hand. "Josie, do whatever


    your heart desires. You''ll be picking a university soon, right? Have you thought about where you


    want to apply?"


    Part of Hattie''s visit was to gauge whether Josefina was considering staying in Westwood or


    venturing to a distant school. Naturally, Hattie hoped Josefina would stay close to home. She had


    only just been reunited with her daughter and couldn''t bear the thought of her leaving so soon.


    Suddenly, Josefina understood the cautious hope in Hattie''s eyes. She looked up, meeting Hattie''s


    gaze with a smile. "I don''t n on leaving Westwood. I''ll apply to universities here."


    Hattie''s eyes sparkled with joy, barely containing her tion. "Really? Josie, are you really nning


    to stay in Westwood for college?"


    Josefina nodded, and Hattie''s joy almost brought her to tears.


    Moved by her mother''s disy of emotion, Josefina felt a warmth in her chest. The love Hattie


    offered in just a few days far surpassed anything she had experienced in eighteen years with the


    Antonios.


    C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Josefina gave Hattie a hug, and Hattie held her tightly in return. "Josie, having you stay at home is


    wonderful. I promise to love you twice as much. I know I can''t make up for the lost eighteen years,


    but I want to be there for the next eighteen years and the eighteen after that..."


    With misty eyes, Josefina tried to hold back her emotions.


    "I''ll go tell your father the good news," Hattie said with excitement. "He''s been dying to ask you but


    didn''t dare. He''ll be thrilled to hear this."


    Even after Hattie had rushed off to share the news with Garrett, Josefina''s heart remained aflutter


    with emotion. She finally felt what it was to be cherished by her parents.


    With a notion to get her hair styled, Josefina''s phone vibrated. Picking it up, she opened the


    message, and her brow furrowed in surprise.


    Why would this person be reaching out to her?