CHAPTER 38

Emma's POV

I couldn't shake off the feeling that the kids were slowly drifting away from me. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but the signs were becoming harder to ignore. Lucien would often suggest they give me space, saying "Maybe we should get to know dad a little better, let's leave mom alone for a bit." Rosaline would claim she needed quiet time to read her novel, but I'd catch her scrolling through her phone instead. And Camilla... oh, Camilla would just laugh and vanish into thin air, leaving me wondering what I'd done wrong.

It started with little things. They'd forget to include me in their plans, or "accidentally" leave me out of their conversations. I felt like I was losing my connection with them, like I was becoming an outsider in my own family.

One day, I decided to confront Lucien about it. "Hey, sweetie, can we talk?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

He looked up from his book, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "What's up, mom?"

"It's just... I feel like y