Lily opened the door to find her mother standing there, a look of delight on her face. "Oh my baby! Wow! This look so beautiful! How long did it take you to clean here?" Her mother's eyes sparkled with admiration as she took in the spotless living room.
Lily's heart raced, her nerves on edge as she forced a calm demeanor. "A few hours," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. The effort she had put into tidying up was evident, but she hoped her mother wouldn't notice the small, nervous tremors in her hands.
Her mother stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the room before landing on the bag on the sofa. Lily's eyes widened involuntarily. "Oh! Why did you buy this?" her mother asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and surprise.