Esther noticed the sudden tension in Noah's posture and the way his eyes darted around the room in a panic.
She quickly reached out and patted his arm to reassure him, her expression softening into something much more maternal. "Do not be so nervous, Noah. It is really nothing serious at all. It is just that you called me 'Aunty' earlier. You should not be calling me that anymore, you know. We are basically one family now, and I want our relationship to reflect that."
Noah felt his heart finally calm down as the adrenaline faded.
He was a smart person, so he understood exactly what she was implying without her having to spell it out.
He took a steadying breath and quickly corrected himself, giving Esther the title she was clearly longing to hear. "I understand... Mom," he said softly.
Esther's face transformed into a bright, joyous smile. She looked at him with pure affection and nodded her head. "Good. That is a very good boy."
