Lily's face was flushed with embarrassment. She had spent the last few moments struggling to find her voice, her cheeks burning with a mix of shame and frustration. "Mom, how could you say that?" she finally managed to say, her voice trembling with emotion. Her eyes, brimming with tears, searched her mother's face for understanding.
Her mother, caught off guard, stared back at her daughter with a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Lily, what are you talking about?" she asked softly, her voice laden with concern.
"It's not about hiding things from you," Lily continued, her voice gaining strength. "I wanted my own apartment not because I wanted to keep secrets, but because I needed to be independent. James is my boyfriend, and I'm tired of you being so overprotective. I'm old enough to make my own decisions. I was young before, and I didn't know better, but I'm asking you now to trust me."