They had to create a PowerPoint presentation featuring the core technologies of the exhibits they had seen that day. Given the large number of exhibits, by the time they finished and sent the work to Nolan, it was well past 2 AM.
Johnny was exhausted, but since he didn’t have a change of clothes, Freya didn’t ask him to stay. After Johnny left, Freya limped to the bathroom for a quick shower, then went to bed. Her foot wasn’t severely injured, but Johnny had suggested she take a few days off before returning to work.
The next morning, Freya worked remotely from home. She received a call from Isabella: “Mom, is your foot feeling better now?” Freya gently tested her foot while making breakfast and replied, “It’s getting better.” “That’s good,” Isabella said, continuing her breakfast. The conversation then trailed off.
Freya sensed a shift. Their communication hadn’t always been this limited. Over the past two years, it had become less frequent. Even when Isabella had concerns, she would confide in Raven first. Their mother-daughter bond had grown distant. This time, Isabella seemed concerned about Freya's injury, but her concern felt superficial. She cared, but not deeply. In the past, even the slightest injury would have had Isabella heartbroken, crying, hugging Freya tightly, and staying by her side constantly. Back then, Isabella had been a truly caring presence. But all that care had been directed towards Raven, unbeknownst to Freya.
Just as when Raven had fallen ill, Isabella secretly messaged her to check on her, even before finishing breakfast. After school, Isabella immediately asked the driver to take her to see Raven. If she had truly been worried about Freya, she could have insisted on finding out where she was staying and gone to see her last night. But she didn’t.
Isabella, at a loss for words, turned to Matteo and asked, “Dad, do you want to talk to Mom on the phone?”
Freya’s thoughts snapped back to reality. Yesterday, when she fell, Matteo hadn’t helped her. His indifference suggested either he didn’t care about her, or he was avoiding trouble with Raven. Raven's feelings clearly mattered more to him than Freya's. His behavior when she fell confirmed this.
Freya's expression turned cold. She was about to speak, but Matteo said, “Ask your mother.”
Isabella turned to Freya and asked, “Mom, Dad wants to know if you want to talk to him on the phone.”
Freya pressed her lips together and replied, “No need, Mom has something to do.”
“Oh…” Isabella repeated, “Dad, Mom says no.”
The conversation ended. Over the next few days, Freya stayed home and worked remotely. Isabella called daily to inquire about her injury, but, as expected, never offered to visit. Nolan reviewed Freya and Johnny’s homework two days later.