"Mommy?" Willow hesitated for a second, then quickly recovered her composure and threw her arms around Aria Richardson, "Mommy, hug."
"Is she your mom?" Waylon Lewis looked at Willow, somewhat incredulous, then turned his gaze to Aria.
Hearing her identity questioned, Aria straightened her back and retorted defiantly, "Sir, are you questioning me while holding my child?"
A flash of surprise crossed Waylon's face, looking at the child in his arms who was unable to stop crying, he hesitated, but eventually, put the child down on the ground and said coldly, "That's not what I meant."
"Good." Aria firmly embraced the child, "Willow, don't cry anymore, let's go."
Aria, holding Willow, walked away with her spine erect, each step emanating a powerful presence.
When she reached the corner, Aria abruptly leaned against the wall, bit her lower lip, patted her chest, and took deep breaths.