30

Annoyed, Athos answered the phone and finally ordered the security guard to let her in.

“Go ahead. I'll come down later,” he said, and I understood that my mother could not suspect what we were doing.

- Clear.

Hastily, I went to the mirror, fixed my ponytail, checked that my clothes weren't out of place, and went downstairs, advancing through the great room at the same moment that my mother came through the front door, accompanied by

Rose and Michel, certainly using their son-in-law as their security. If I were in her shoes, I would be afraid of Athos too .

She was better dressed than usual, wearing a long flowered dress, high-heeled sandals, and her blond hair was beautifully brushed. As I looked into her face, I tried to feel some trace of longing, or affection, but all I wanted was for her to leave and never come back.

— Would you like a coffee or an orange juice? Roseline asked.

— You do not need to bring anything, Rose. Can go.

The housekeeper excused herself and headed for the k