Seven Mothers: All Seven Of My Mothers Are Heavenly Goddesses?!

And before I could say a word, she stood up abruptly, pacing a few steps before turning back to me with her arms crossed.

"Am I not good enough for you, Luca?!" She exclaimed, her voice rising in mock indignation. "Was all the time I spent raising you not enough to earn a measly passcode slot?!"

"Oh, for the love of—Mom, it's just a passcode." I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

"Just a passcode?!" She repeated, her tone dripping with dramatic outrage. She placed a hand over her chest, her expression one of exaggerated betrayal as she continued saying, "Do you have any idea how many sleepless nights I spent taking care of you? How many bruises I patched up for you? How many school projects did I help you finish at the last minute?"

"I didn't realise my passcode was a measure of your maternal worth." I stared at her in dismay.

"Of course it is!" she shot back without missing a beat. "I mean, what does she have that I don't? Huh? Do you love her more or something? Is that it?"

"Mom, it's not about—" I rubbed my temples, trying to suppress a sigh.

She cut me off, throwing her hands up in frustration. "You know what? Don't answer that. I already know the answer. I'm just the background mom, aren't I? The one who does all the work and gets none of the recognition!"

"Background mom?!" I repeated, staring at her like she'd grown a second head. "You're being ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?!" She echoed, eyes wide with mock disbelief. "Ridiculous is raising a son for years, only for him to use someone else's birthday as his passcode!" She turned away from me with a huff, crossing her arms. "I'm hurt, Luca. Truly. Wounded."

"You're acting like I disowned you or something." I stared at her, my expression somewhere between exasperation and amusement.

"Well, it feels like it!" She retorted, turning back to me with a dramatic pout. "You couldn't have chosen my birthday? Just once? Is that too much to ask?"

Her pout deepened as she crossed her arms, looking away like a child sulking after not getting her way.

Of course, I couldn't let her continue being grumpy, as that wasn't something I could handle, so I gestured toward the empty space beside me with a small smile as I said, "Come here, Mom...Come take your rightful place next to me so I can clear up this misunderstanding."

She stiffened slightly, pretending not to hear me. Her nose tilted up in mock defiance, but I could see her resolve crumbling by the way her eyes darted toward me from the corner of her gaze.

She was holding onto her pride, but it wouldn't last long.

"Come on, Mom." I coaxed, my voice soft, almost teasing. "You can't stay mad at me forever."

For a moment, she didn't move, her lips pressed together like she was still debating whether or not to give in.

But then, with a regal air of resignation, she stood and walked back toward the couch, each step deliberate and elegant, as if she were a queen deciding to grace her subject with her presence, unable to withstand when her son was calling her to sit by his side when it was always the other way around.

And without a word, she sat beside me, keeping her back straight and her head held high, her body language screaming, "I'm still upset."

I chuckled inwardly. She was so predictable.

I then wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer before she could react. She froze for a second, her body stiff with surprise, but the moment my arm settled around her neck and pulled her into a warm hug, her facade cracked, unable to maintain her grudge against me.

Her head slowly tilted toward me, resting lightly against my chest. Her arms, previously folded in defiance, slipped down and tentatively curled around my waist. The tension in her body melted away as she let herself sink into the embrace, her earlier frustration dissolving like sugar in water.

She nuzzled against me slightly, her actions instinctive, like a puppy seeking the comfort of its owner. Her fingers clutched at the fabric of my shirt, and her eyes closed as if this moment was all she needed to feel at peace. There was a faint, contented sigh that escaped her lips, one she probably didn't even realise she made.

I didn't say anything. I didn't need to. The way she nestled closer, the way she leaned into me with complete trust and warmth, said everything she couldn't put into words. It was the silent gratitude of someone who had been craving attention and finally received it.

Her grip then tightened slightly around my arm, her fingers idly playing with my hand as she quietly asked, "Luca, what did you mean earlier? When you said I misunderstood?...Did I really misunderstand something?"

I sighed, tilting my head back against the couch. "It's true, Mom." I admitted, my voice soft. "I did use her birthday as my passcode."

Her head immediately snapped up, and I could feel the sharp glare she shot at me without even needing to look. "I knew it!" She huffed, her tone dripping with mock betrayal.

I held up a hand, cutting her off before she could launch into another dramatic tirade. "But..." I added quickly. "...that's only for today."

That made her pause. Her glare softened into confusion as she tilted her head, her fingers pausing mid-play.

"Only for today? What do you mean by that?"

I turned to meet her gaze, a small, tired smile tugging at my lips.

"Well, I didn't think it was fair to use just one of your birthdays, considering how much all of you mean to me." I explained, keeping my voice steady and sincere. "So, I set it up so that each of your birthdays is my passcode—one for each day of the week."

She blinked, clearly taken aback, her lips parting slightly as the words sank in. "Wait...You did what?" She finally managed to say, her voice almost a whisper.

"Monday to Sunday for all seven of you." I continued. "Each day has a different birthday as my passcode. I rotate through all of you to keep it fair. It's safe, and that way, no one can get upset—or at least, I hope not."

For a moment, she didn't respond. Her wide eyes were locked onto mine, and her fingers stilled completely. Then, slowly, her expression shifted, her features softening into something indescribable—an overwhelming mix of pride, joy, and maybe even a little awe.

"You really thought of all that?" She murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the effort. "Seemed like the best solution. I didn't want anyone to feel left out."

Her lips curved into a tender smile, one that reached her eyes and lit up her entire face.

"Luca…That's…You're amazing." She said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "You really do think of everything, don't you?" She whispered, more to herself than to me.

Before I could respond, she leaned into me, resting her head against my shoulder once more. I could feel the warmth of her cheek pressing against me, and her fingers resumed their light, absent-minded movements over my hand.

But even though it was quite peaceful now, I just knew that it was going to become chaotic the moment she browsed through my contacts, which was something that I really wasn't looking forward to...