Hera was tight-lipped.
She never expected Martha to ask her this question. She had always known that Martha had a sharp eye but still, what are the odds that she would figure something like this out in just the few hours that they had arrived here?
And how on earth does she answer all these questions without spilling the truth? She wasn't the one who lies and she definitely cannot start now. She wasn't even good at it and Martha would fish out the truth even before she was able to make a complete sentence. Whatever she says would definitely have to bring out the truth somehow. This was her biggest fear in taking this trip back home and now, it's unfolding right in front of her very eyes.
Her hands trembled and she felt cold shivers run up her body at Martha's intense stare. She was scared and every breath she shuddered was enough proof to that claim.
"Do you love him or not?" Martha repeated with the same intensity as before. "Is he just your boss or not?"
"Bryce is—" She stuttered, her mouth not being able to communicate the words that her brain was telling her to. "Well, he's my..." She trailed off feeling somewhat frightened and a bit desolate.
"I raised you, my child." She started, adjusting herself on her swivel chair as she balanced her hands on the table to support her weight. "I watched you grow into the woman that you have become. I know every little thing there is to know about you because I consider you my own child, Hera. Both you and Christina are my children, so how on earth did you expect me not to notice when something has changed?"
"I can promise you that nothing has changed, Sister Martha." She sniffed, her eyes watered involuntarily. The last thing she had ever wanted was for Martha to get upset and disappointed with her and judging from how things were going, it looked like she was.