Chapter 77

**Echoes of a Forgotten Bond**

Athena couldn't shake the encounter in the park. All night, she'd tossed and turned, her mind returning to that dark-haired man who had somehow known her name, who'd spoken to her as though they shared a history—one that was somehow beyond her reach. And yet, whenever she thought of him, an ache stirred in her chest, a sense of longing mixed with frustration.

Who was he? How did he know her? And why couldn't she remember?

The following day, her restlessness only grew. She knew she needed answers. Maybe it was foolish, but she found herself walking back to the park, returning to the very bench where she had seen him. Her heart thudded in her chest as she sat down, hoping—no, needing—him to return. The minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. Just when she began to think her visit was pointless, there was a rustle nearby, and she felt a presence beside her.

He was here.