Aria went to her room, shocked and confused at the same time.

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. One glance at the screen, and her heart softened. Mum.

She sighed before picking up.

“Good morning, Mum.”

“Good morning, my darling,” came her mother’s familiar, warm voice — the kind that always felt like a soft embrace.

“Dear, you know your sister’s birthday is coming up this Saturday. I don’t know if she’s sent you an invitation.”

Aria rolled her eyes slightly, her tone turning cool.

“Yes, Mum. She did. Through her PA.”

There was a long pause.

The kind of pause only mothers could use to silently say ‘I...