Chapter 8
The room was quiet, except for the sound of keys tapping on the keyboard, Soraya sat cross–legged in her chair, her eyes moving between charts, an economic calendar, and her custom–coded dashboard, which was flashing green,
To others, it might’ve lookeil like chaos.
To her, it was music–numbers and patterns forming a chytlur only she could hear.
She took a sip of cold green tea without looking away. It was 4:57 AM. Tokyo had just closed, and London was about in open. Her spreadsheet updated in real time, showing her profits tick up like a heartbeat.
Soraya was trading online. She had placed a total of $1,000,000, and in just three days, she had earned $129,427.3
She could not help but smile. “Perfect
Her phone buzzed. A notification popped spe Your Net Worth Has Been Updated.]
She duln’t check it
She already knew.
The numbers always told her first.
A knock on the door alerted her. Soraya turned to find her Uncle Philip
“I saw the light coming from your door. I knew you were awake.” Then, her uncle’s gaze landed on the computer screen.
Philip was a man in his late fifties. He had brown hair with lines of gray. He was tall and medium–built. This man was Soraya’s father figure and had raised her since she was sevell.
He had helped her set up the monitors for her trale. Soraya was good with numbers. She wasn’t just a computer engineer, but through her uncle, she had learned the ropes in trading, both in forex and stocks.
It was as if she were born for this. In fact, she had once worked part–time for her uncle. Philip Azar owned an investment firm. Trading stocks was one of the main ways his company grew its clients‘ money.
“Tarned big” Philip asked.
“Tamed by
Soraya nodded, confirming “I wanted to test myself and make sure I wasn’t rusted”
A laugh; escaped her uncle’s lips. He remarked, “Soraya, numbers are your specialty. You have a fixation on patterns and data. I had never doubted your skill
Hearing that made Sorays feel guilty
Four years ago, when she decided to commit to her marriage fully, she also stopped working for her uncle. She still helped with trading from time to time, but her primary focus was on raising hage and working at the Montclair Group.
Her uncle Philips Azar’s business began to struggle, especially after Calum withdrew all their investments. Calum ensures that the other wealthy families in Cedar Heights were aware that he no longer supported the Azary firm.
tried to help, but he was already the CEO When it came to managing the family’s money. Calum’s decision was final.
As a result of Calum’s anos. Plutis had to move to Belridge, in buching his company. He was no longer getting bag chents in Cedar
“Well see I have proven to myself that I can still do it, Uncle, I’ll go back to working part–time for you.” Soraya suggested.
કા
“Good” Pulp said with a smile “You start on Monday Just like before, you don’t need to physically be at the uffice Your primary goal is
Heights
મેં યુની.” આ
“Okay. Unde Soraya responded.
You better sleep. Suraya. Try not to overwork yourself.” Philip said. “And, by the way, your maid! Beluula? She called noe yesterday.
in the office. She said Sage has been louking for you”
Chapter 8
Soraya’s earlier calm expression changed. Hearing her daughter’s name, she shut her emotions down once again.
“I know you are hurt, but Sage is your daughter. Try to be there for her. Philip said.
“I” Soraya gulped. Then, her mind began to raise concerns,
“What if I see Rose again?”
“What if Sage hurts me again?”
“What if I see Calum and Rose together?
But her uncle was right. She gave birth to Sage, and it was her responsibility to be her mother. Soraya took a deep breath and said. “Okay. I’ll check on her tomorrow.”
Atten in the morning. Soraya woke up from her sleep. When she fluttered her eyes open, the first thing she saw was the nylon bracelet Sage had made for her when she was still four years old.
Soraya remembered making the bracelet with Sage during a school activity. They had crafted matching ones for each other. Sage always wore hers, and so did Soraya. It was their special mother–daughter bond.
Back then, Soraya and Sage even made a promise to each other.
Baby, this bracelet is a symbol of my love for you. Keep it always with you,” Soraya had said.
“And this is for you, Mommy!” Sage said. “I will always love you.”
At the recollection of that event, Soraya felt her chest tightened. She had sworn never to feel hurt again, but when it came to Sage, it was difficult.
And so Soraya hurriedly checked her phone. For the first time since Sage’s birthday, she opened the chat app and read all of her daughter’s messages.
On the night of her birthday, Sage sent an apology: [Mommy, I’m sorry, I knew you wouldn’t want Aunt Rose to celebrate my birthday, so we didn’t invite you. Please don’t be mad.]
The next day, she sent [Mommy, are you coming home?]
On another day, she said: Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Rose are at a party. I’m bored. Can
you come home?]
Mommy, are you still mad?j
[Mommy, I miss your food.
Larly this morning. Sage had sent her a message: [Mommy, I really want to go to the Cedar Heights Wellness Club after school with you, Mommy. Please, Mommy. I miss you. Could you please come and pick me up?].
“Cedar Heights Wellness Club” The wellness club was the city’s most exclusive sports club. She and Calum were both members. It had a swimming pool, suite accommodations, a cafe, and several outdoor activities Many families went there just to run around its huge. lawn, go on a picnic, or simply roam the vast gardens.
She and Sage sometimes went there, just to pass the time.
Reflecting on this, Soraya assumed her daughter had missed the times when they would visit the place. Guilt washed over her. She knew she was wrong for avoiding Sage. After all, her daughter was still young and did not understand the situation between her, Calum, and
Very quickly, the replied. I’ll pick you up at school See you later]
Just so be sure there wouldn’t be any surprises, she also texted Calum
age asked me to pick her up
her home after spending some time with her I
It took a while, but eventually, Calunn replied: (Okay I
“Mommy” You tame!” Sage called.
gler in her daughter’s eyes was eviden
seeing boraya.
The mother and daughter easily embrar
h other outside the school gates. Soraya sand. “Of course I came. I did say I’d pick you up
254PM P P
Chapter 8
When Sage pulled away, she said, “Let’s go to the club? And eat some e pastries?”
Soraya nodded. She grabbed her daughter’s hand, but just as she did, she noticed something.
The nylon bracelet that used to be around Sage’s wrist was no longer there. Instead, Sage was wearing a new charm bracelet made of white gold.
Soraya frowned. Something did not feel right.
It was already in the car, right after Soraya drove out from the school, that she asked, “Sage, where is your bracelet?”
Soraya watched her daughter from the rearview mirror. At first, Sage looked confused, lait shortly, Sage’s gaze landed on her wrist.
Sage looked down, hiding the new bracelet. “Monimy, it got dirtied during my birthday. So, I–I threw it away. It was really dirty, and it was really already old.”
Soraya kept her eyes on the road, masking her disappointment. “You’re right. Our bracelets were old, and nylon doesn last forever. It’s just a bracelet”
But even as she said it, something inside her didn’t sit right.
The Sage she knew would take care of that bracelet like it was the most precious possession in the world.
The Sage she knew would never throw it away.
At least, not without telling Soraya first
But why would she so easily throw away their mother–daughter bond?
Soraya didn’t have the answer at the moment.
But
