Chapter 14

Cynthia sat in a wicker chair, gazing out at the winding coastal road in the distance from time to time. She was currently sitting on the balcony of a villa overlooking the Amarette Coast in Yuntal. She heard the sound of an engine from afar, soon after which a car slowly came to a stop in front of the villa. The car door opened, and Edward stepped out with Marcus' assistant—Bennett Irving—supporting him. He was wearing clean yet slightly loose clothes, and his hair had been combed. Still, traces of his time spent in prison could be seen from his sunken sockets and thin face. "Dad!" Cynthia called out as she rushed down the stairs, her voice trembling imperceptibly. Edward spread his arms wide, and Cynthia threw herself into his embrace. The tough exterior she'd been struggling to keep up for far too long finally began to crack. She didn't cry, but her shoulders shook slightly. She hugged Edward tightly, as if afraid that this would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. "Alrig