Chapter 67

“Dad…” Via’s lips trembled as she called for the familiar man before her. He was still the same. She would always find him seated in his working area whenever she went to his office.

Her father's head snapped up at the sound of her voice, and there was a stunned silence for a moment. Then, in a move that took her completely by surprise, he stood up and hurried over to her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

Via froze, her body stiff with shock. She couldn't remember the last time her father had hugged her like this, with such raw emotion.

"I'm sorry, my child," her father whispered, his voice thick with regret. The tears threatening to spill finally broke free, streaming down her cheeks. She had never expected to hear those words from him, words she had longed for all these years.

With just those words, all the fear and the pain that she thought she had forgotten was completely washed away. Something heavy was lifted from her chest, and she could not stop herself from bawling her eye