Maria felt like she was living a dream—she had just landed a fantastic new job and was swept off her feet by an unexpected romance. But everything came crashing down when her vindictive boss decided to get rid of her.
Maria hugged her son, Lucas, tears of pride filling her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, my darling! When I found out I was pregnant with you, I never could’ve imagined you’d achieve so much. Graduating from law school magna cum laude—it’s incredible!”
Lucas gave her a playful grin. “You make it sound like I was a lost cause,” he teased.
Maria laughed and gently tapped his arm. “You know what I mean. I was only sixteen—a child myself. Becoming a mom so young was tough, and I made plenty of mistakes, but you’ve always been my pride and joy, Lucas.”
Lucas kissed her cheek and ruffled her hair. Their relationship had always been a bit unconventional since Lucas was raised by his grandparents while Maria finished school and community college. At one point, they were even getting ready for school together, more like siblings than mother and son.
“I’m going to miss you,” Maria sighed as they walked arm-in-arm across the college’s manicured lawns. “I’m glad you’ve got a job already, but I wish you were staying here, not moving to the city.”
“I’ll be back to visit. It’s only an hour’s drive,” Lucas reassured her.
Maria smiled as they strolled under the bright sun, the air fresh and sweet—a perfect day for Lucas to start the next chapter of his life.
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