Chapter 69 (Resolve)

"I'm supposed to be ready by now," Jeremy mused, his gaze fixated on the bright screen of his phone. The clock read 6 AM, and a wave of anxiety washed over him.

"I hope she isn't mad!" he exclaimed under his breath, hastily inserting his spare key into the lock of the front door.

"I knew this spare key would come in handy," he muttered to himself, closing the door behind him with the utmost care.

As he turned to survey the living room, his heart sank at the sight of his mother, Sophie, slumbering peacefully on the worn-out couch.

The dim light of dawn cast a soft glow over her features, highlighting the lines of exhaustion that had carved themselves into her face over the years.

"She waited up all night," Jeremy noted, a pang of guilt settling in the pit of his stomach. The sight of her, vulnerable and tired, stirred something deep within him.

He glanced around the living room, taking in the fraying furniture and the clutter that had accumulated over time.

"Don’t worry, Mum," he t