Nova stayed quiet and deeply moved herself. Mark had been lying from the start, deceiving both her and Cleo.

"Cleo, I was duped just like you. Look at me, nothing's changed, right?" Nova said.

"But they still want to take me away, and I might never see you again," Cleo complained, her lips pouting.

Nova gazed at her, her eyes full of compassion for the little girl whose fate echoed her own, and she couldn't resist stroking her cheek gently.

"Cleo, nobody can force you ...