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36

Athena had frequently pondered whether she'd encounter Emmett again, but she never anticipated it happening this soon.

They found themselves standing in the long, antiseptic hallway of the hospital, caught in a wordless moment. Their gazes locked across the space, and for what seemed like forever, they remained motionless and silent.

Three years had elapsed, yet the quiet between them felt more oppressive than ever, a gulf of unspoken thoughts that neither knew how to traverse.

The determination in Athena's eyes, keen and unwavering, stood in stark contrast to the quiet melancholy in Emmett's look, a tacit farewell that had persisted over the past three years, a period marked by remorse and hardship. He knew he deserved this anguish, but it didn't lessen the pain.

"Mommy... who's that man? He looks frightening..."

Eira's naive query broke the thick silence, jolting Athena back to reality.