Chapter 1278


    Sitting on a weathered wooden bench by theke, Thssa leaned into Lysander''s side, her gaze


    meeting that of her mother, Evelyn, who sat opposite. Lysander''s presence was somanding that


    even as Evelyn tried to focus on Thssa, her peripheral vision kept betraying her, drawn to the man


    beside her daughter.


    A shiver of difort ran through Evelyn as her eyes unintentionally brushed past Lysander. Quickly,


    she averted her gaze to the calm waters of theke, trying to find sce in the scenery. Weeping


    willows draped their tendrils across moored boats, their wispy branchesically resembling toupees


    on balding dolls. It was a sight both enchanting and amusingly quaint.


    Evelyn''s attention was caught by a modest fishing boat bobbing not far off, its silhouette against the


    shimmering river. Suddenly, with the grace of a dancer, a fish leaped from theke, arcing perfectly


    through the air beforending on the very boat Evelyn had been observing.


    The fisherman, who''d been dozing in wait for the right moment to haul in hiss, was jolted awake by


    the p of the fish against his cheek. Bursting intoughter, he eximed, “Well, ain''t that the luck! A


    catch while napping, that''s some fine fortune!” With glee, he scooped up the fish and secured it in his


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    bucket.


    Evelyn, who had been so engrossed in the scene, couldn''t help but let out augh. It had been ages


    since she had witnessed such a vivid slice of life, and the moment swept the clouds from her mood like


    sunlight through a clearing mist.


    Thssa watched her motherugh—a true, heartfeltugh—and she felt a warm sense of relief. She


    had brought Evelyn on this little getaway to lift her spirits, fearing that too much time spent cooped up


    in Starhaven might lead her down a dark path again. After a past suicide attempt, Thssa couldn''t


    bear the thought of a second.


    As Thssa smiled, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her gently into a broad and


    sturdy chest. The subtle scent of sandalwood from the man''s body enveloped her, a fragrance so


    familiar it caught her off-guard. Her heart skipped a beat, and she found herself holding her breath,


    overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment.


    Countless nights had been spent in the embrace of such a chest, surrounded by thisforting scent.


    Now, that same scent filled her lungs in the open air, triggering memories of their shared slumber.


    Without pushing him away—after all, it was just a simple hug and nothing more—Thssa epted


    silently. Her heart fluttered as she inadvertently locked eyes with Callum, who sat across from them.


    His gaze was clouded with a mncholic shadow. His previously warm eyes now seemed to carry a


    chill that mirrored the cool breeze brushing against their skin.


    Just as she was about to speak, Callum looked away, mimicking Evelyn''s retreat to theke''s calming


    scenery. The air somehow felt cold to Callum, a reflection of his internal frost. A once ardent heart felt


    as if it had been covered in ice, the difort instant and unsettling.