Mariana walked through the university halls, her notebook pressed to her chest, her mind not on the upcoming lecture but on the conversation she had shared with George the night before. Though just a child, he was sharp — too sharp sometimes. He had asked questions about her project, the one she had only vaguely hinted at before.
He wanted to help.
It warmed her heart in a way she didn't expect. George had inherited more than Mary's eyes — he had her will, her empathy, and her silent strength.
Later that day, Mariana met with her professor to finalize her independent research. She had proposed a bold idea: a sustainable redevelopment plan for Silvercity's neglected riverfront — an idea once started by Mary herself under her pseudonym, Marie Bee.
The professor, impressed by her insight and passion, approved it without hesitation.
Back home, she updated her secret journal — a system interface disguised as a regular notebook. The system chimed softly, congratulating her on completing a side quest: Revive a lost project from your past life.
George's name appeared briefly on the page. It wasn't part of the system. It was her heart guiding her hand.
At the same time, James walked past the renovated city square. He paused, noticing a familiar architectural style — Mary's touch. It stirred something inside him: guilt, regret, and a quiet, growing respect. He didn't know Mariana. Not yet. But the past was whispering.
And so, as Silvercity started to glow again with new life, so did the bond between a mother and her son — unspoken, unseen, but unbreakable.