Celine was focusing on the presentation she had to deliver next week when the door to her room suddenly opened without a knock. She lifted her face, her eyebrows raised as a middle-aged woman walked in with a confident stride.  

5

"Mom?" Celine could hardly believe it. Her former mother-in-law, Maria, stood there with that stern expression she knew so well.  

Maria smiled faintly, although her eyes seemed full of determination. "Celine, we need to talk. This is important."  

Celine immediately stood up, slamming the document in her hand onto the table. "What are you doing here? This is my office, and you weren't invited."  

Maria stepped closer, ignoring Celine's...