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At Castenea Prison, the heavy rain had gradually come to a stop. The drops became more and more sparse until they ceased altogether. The sky began to reveal a faint shade of blue.
Anathea looked at the weather and took it as a good sign.
Finally, she could openly and proudly bring her father out of prison and take him to reunite with her mother.
She’d waited and hoped for this moment for so long. She was so nervous she kept tugging at the hem of her clothes.
Giselle gently held the back of her hand to comfort her. “Relax. Don’t be nervous.”
Anathea took a deep breath and gave Giselle a grateful smile. “Thank you, Giselle.”
Had Giselle not taken the risk of offending Gregory to help Adam with his case, he wouldn’t have been able to come out so smoothly.
“Thank yourself too,” Giselle uttered with a smile.
Giselle had said before that the case itself wasn’t hard. What made it difficult were all the forces entangled in it, and naturally, Gregory was the biggest obstacle.
Anathea’s resolve to cut ties with the past so decisively did make Giselle admire her a bit.
Giselle had thought that in her line of work, she’d long since become used to the world’s coldness and grown detached enough. But compared to Anathea, she hadn’t reached that point yet.
In this harsh world, it was always the gentle women who, once they saw through love, became truly breathtaking–they were stunning enough to break hearts and shake the world.
Anathea lowered her eyes.
The scenes of her time with Gregory kept surfacing in her mind.
His attempts to please her, his gentleness, his madness–all of it had seeped into her heart little by little.
Now, while he was accepting family punishment at the private chapel, she had taken this opportunity to escape.
He clung to a place where she belonged. But when everything came crashing down, she was the first to flee, leaving him all alone with the enemies with no way out.
He must hate her now.
However, ever since he insisted on forcing her to stay, he could no longer deny the pain she had suffered because of him. At least that was what she told herself to lessen her guilt.
Just then, the prison gates slowly opened. Anathea had no time to think of anything else. She suddenly looked up at the gate.
Adam walked out slowly, wearing a simple outfit.
His illness had mostly been treated. Perhaps because his health had improved, there was more flesh on his face. The hair on his temples had turned gray. Still, even after six years, he looked exactly like the father she remembered.
Anathea stood frozen in place, her legs heavy as if they’d been filled with lead. She couldn’t move. She just stared at Adam, her eyes turning red, her lips trembling.
“Nat…” Adam spoke first.
The way he called her name was just the same, making it seem like any ordinary afternoon six years ago.
“Nat, come try the tea I just brewed!”
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“Nat, you’re all grown now. Why are you still such a picky eater?”
“Nat, your mom and I just tried doing calligraphy. Whose looks better?”
“Nat…”
The way he said her name seemed to cut through the six years that had rushed by and found its way back into Anathea’s ears.
Her heart–which had turned still and lifeless ever since her father went to prison–finally began to beat again, full of life.
“Dad!” She ran toward Adam, not being able to hold back her tears anymore.
Just like he had done countless times before, Adam opened his arms and caught her in a steady embrace. “Slow down, lest you
trip.”
“Dad…” Anathea hugged him tightly, her voice choked with emotion.
“I finally got you out. We’re going to Syntherra. Mom’s there. We can be together as a family again!”
“Okay.” Adam raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Then, he smiled and teased, “You’re a grown woman now, and you still cry like a baby. Aren’t you embarrassed?‘
Anathea burst into a tearful laugh. “No matter how old I get, I’ll always be your baby.”
“Of course. You’re my precious little treasure.” Adam ruffled the top of her head.
Just then, Giselle stepped forward. “Let’s go, Mr. Jacobson.”
