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 . 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