"Mom."

"Oh, Maria? You're up already?"

Julie beamed upon seeing Maria, but embarrassment shadowed her face instantly.

Maria gleaned right then that Julie had been crying. The tear stains on her face gave it away.

After recounting her past, Maria felt an overwhelming desire to go back to sleep. She had no idea about how Julie coped with the grief of finding out where her biological daughter's heart went after all these years.

But it seemed Julie intended on pouring all her love into Maria now.

An overwhelming love that was, in fact, felt by Maria.

Twenty years ago, Julie had suffered the loss of a child from an accidental pregnancy. She had no choice but to accept a fabricated story Bill and Patricia made up, given they didn't grant her the chance to see her baby.

Unexpectedly, Julie found her biological daughter's heart beating inside Maria's chest.

Julie was first met with great sorrow and now great joy.

She felt it was God's greatest mercy. The fact that it was someone as lovely as Maria who turned out to be the person carrying on her biological daughter's life made her rejoice.

Julie was set on caring for Maria as her own daughter. By that point, her determination had risen to new heights.

Julie resolved to shower Maria with as much love as possible. She wanted to give all her love to Maria!

“Maria, you hungry? I... I'll cook for you..."

Blushing, Julie awkwardly tried to block Maria's view, afraid Maria would notice the burnt spareribs on the table.

Maria tried hard not to giggle, holding back her laughter.

The scent of burnt food lingered in the air, unmistakable and strong.

Julie caught on, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

Never had Julie cared so much about her image in front of Maria.

"I'm a mom, and I can't even cook. It's so embarrassing..."

Julie had read somewhere that skilled cooks were a thing of the past, and modern women shouldn't be tied down to the kitchen. What nonsense!

Everyone needed to eat, regardless of gender. Knowing how to cook wasn't a bad thing.

And here she was, unable to whip up a meal for her hungry kid with a kitchen full of ingredients. What sort of modern woman was that?

Julie thought it was absurd. It just didn't make sense.