After staying another day in their hometown, Nicholas Croft flew back to City T with Sophie Foster.
His brother Damian Croft personally drove the couple to the airport, and Julia Zabinski insisted on coming along. Before boarding, she gently brushed Sophie's bangs and said warmly, "Lara, come back often if you can. Since your mother left early, I'll treat you as my own daughter from now on!"
Julia's words, though crude, were genuinely sincere. Last night, while Sophie fell asleep, Nicholas chatted with his parents until late at night. He didn't mention Sophie searching for her birth parents, only saying that her mother passed early, and she was left to fend for herself in her teens...
Julia was so moved that she cried, berating herself that if she'd known Sophie's story was so heartbreaking, she wouldn't have treated her the way she did...
Nicholas comforted his mother with a pat on the back, saying, "Mom, it's not too late to treat her well now."
