Rebirth In Divorce My New Mr. Perfect (by Summer Knowles) novel Chapter 538

After Shawn and Amanda left, Melvin warned, "Sasa, Sydney won't let this go. Be careful."

"I will. Heading to the office?"

“Yep. See you at home." Then he left too.

Alone at last, Mia threw herself into Sarah's arms. "I've missed you so much! I've been trying to see you, but my grandfather wouldn't let me out. I finally found a way!"

"Did you sneak out?" Sarah asked, getting some coconut pudding from the fridge.

"Not this time!" Mia said proudly. "I made a deal with my new therapist."

"A deal?"

Mia nodded. “My grandfather and brother keep finding therapists, but I couldn't work with any of them. This one's different - I agreed to treatment if he'd bring me here."

Sarah looked at her with concern. "Still having nightmares?"

"Yes. Without you, I'm always panicking. Even at home, my heart races. I just want to lock myself in my room, avoid everyone. But with you, I feel safe. I can talk again." Mia took a bite of pudding.

Sarah had always known Mia depended on her - it seemed essential to her recovery. But now she worried this dependency might not be healthy.

Could it become its own problem after the trauma healed?

"Are you happy, Mia?"

"Of course!"

She'd been deliberately resistant with them while hiding her true fear.

"Do Zachary and your grandfather know about this?" Sarah asked, her heart aching.

To her, Mia was still that little girl, always protected. She remembered Mia in her summer dresses, her smooth, delicate skin. Now it was covered in marks that might scar.

"They don't know. I don't want to worry them."

Sarah felt a mix of frustration and tenderness. "Don't you realize seeing this would worry them even more? When did it start?"

She remembered Mia hadn't done this before. Why was she self-harming now?

Mia thought for a moment. "I think... three days after leaving your house."