Chapter 335: No Easy Way Back (Part 3)

"Anna..."

Just like in Leon's memory, after calling out the name of the girl in front of her, Emma felt all her fatigue ebb away suddenly, like a receding tide. Even her shoulders, which seemed to bear the weight of a thousand pounds, felt suddenly lighter.

However, instead of joy and happiness, what replaced it was a lingering sense of remorse and shame.

"I lost my job..."

After drooping her head and saying this, Emma, or rather Leon of the past, explained with a face full of regret,

"I really wasn't slacking off, but I could only carry about half of what others could. The foreman only gave me half a month's wage and told me not to come back to the dock tomorrow. I..."

"You did well enough."

As the dim oil lamp and the girl's gentle footsteps came closer, a comforting voice, free of any hint of blame, whispered in Emma's ear after a warm embrace.