Chapter 26

As soon as Asa set foot before Alfred's room, a surge of intense longing for her son seized her. The ordeal of being kidnapped and separated from her beloved child for two agonizingly long days had left a void in her heart that could only be filled by seeing Alfred.

The moment she gently pushed open the door to his room, Alfred, like a small bird returning to its nest, dashed into her waiting arms, encircling her in a heartfelt hug. His voice, thick with both relief and love, reached her ears. "I missed you, Mom," he exclaimed.

With his small form safely ensconced in her embrace, Asa responded warmly, "My sweet son, I've missed you." As she uttered these words, she tightened her hold on him, as if trying to merge their two forms into one, vowing silently to never let him go.

After an intimate moment spent in each other's arms, Alfred pulled back slightly, shifting to sit on the edge of his bed. Looking up at his mother with wide, questioning eyes, he inquired, "Where have you been, M