CHAPTER 22

“WHO’S THAT?” MISHA asked and Soren wanted to smile when the smile on her face suddenly disappeared and was replaced by a raised eyebrow.

“Who?”

“The owner of the voice, the one who called you darling.”

He wanted to delay answering to tease her and make her a little more jealous—her wanting-to-frown face was so cute— but he couldn’t. “It’s my mom,” he said.

“Your mom?” Her voice suddenly softening.

Before he could answer, his mother approached him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Who are you talking to?” his mother asked while looking at his phone.

“Misha,” he said.

“Hi, Misha,” his mother greeted Misha on his phone.

“H-hello, ma’am,” Misha greeted back, her voice now sounding shy and awkward.

“Who’s she?” his mother turned to him.

“I’ll tell you later,” he answered and turned to Misha. “I’ll just have a little conversation with my mom. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” she said and disappeared from his cell phone screen.

He led his mother to a couch where she gracefully sat, putting her e