A RUSSO.

“Your words hurt, Elena…” Chloe exhaled, a painful smile escaping her lips.

Elena adjusted in her seat, and shook her head, “I did not mean to.”

“Elena.”

“You cannot meet my children.”

“Why? Do you hate me too? If I could go back in time to change the past, I would, but I can’t. Why… why are you…”

“I am not being hard on you on purpose, Chloe.”

“Let me meet them.”

“And who would I tell them you are? I would not introduce you to them as their aunt. You might think it’s just a word, but my children are so smart and you would be surprised by how quick they will figure you out.”

“Anything!” Chloe sniffed and wiped the tears that laced her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Anything, if aunt does not sit well with you.”

Elena watched Chloe who kept tearing up no matter how much she wiped her tears away and then smacked her lips.

Her eyes fell on her coffee and her ice had already melted. She picked up the glass cup, removed the straw, and then drank the coffee directly from the glass.

“I co