“Vania, come. I want to see you. Don’t bring anyone. Just think of it as an invitation from a grandmother to her granddaughter-in-law.”

The voice on the other end of the line was gentle yet filled with authority.

Vania fell silent for a long time. Her hands tightened into fists on her lap, her voice trembling.

“Grandmother… I…” she swallowed hard, barely able to continue. “I don’t know if that would be appropriate. My relationship with Devandra… is no longer—”

“Vania.” Grandmother Montgomery cut her off, her tone firm yet warm. “You are still my granddaughter-in-law. That doesn’t change just because of circumstances. You know I love you.”

Silence. Vania’s...