chapter1278

Sitting on a weathered wooden bench by the lake, Thalassa leaned into Lysander's side, her gaze

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

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

beside her daughter.

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

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

willows draped their tendrils across moored boats, their wispy branches comically 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 the lake, arcing perfectly

through the air before landing on the very boat Evelyn had been observing.

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

the slap of the fish against his cheek. Bursting into laughter, he exclaimed, “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

bucket.

Evelyn, who had been so engrossed in the scene, couldn't help but let out a laugh. 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.

Thalassa watched her mother laugh—a true, heartfelt laugh—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, Thalassa couldn't

bear the thought of a second.

As Thalassa 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 this comforting 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—Thalassa accepted

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

His gaze was clouded with a melancholic 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 the lake'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 discomfort instant and unsettling.