Chapter 160

ARIANA'S POV

Shock rippled through me as I saw my mother standing in the hallway. Margaret Vanderbilt was the last person I expected to see, especially after everything that had happened. Rob had sent her away, and we hadn’t heard from her since we decided we were contesting the will. Her sudden appearance felt like a punch to the gut.

“Josh, I’ll be fine,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. Josh nodded, squeezing my shoulder before walking away.

I turned back to face my mother, feeling a mixture of anger and confusion. She stood there, dressed in a black skirt and a pink coat with golden buttons. The outfit was elegant, but her hair was unkempt