Elaria acted as if she had not heard him. She kissed the girl's cheek gently, stroking her hair.
"Baby, you are here. Why did you not wait? I told you I would come back."
The girl smiled sweetly and kissed her back.
"Because I missed you, Mama. I couldn't wait. I wanted to see you."
The two of them spoke like no one else existed in the room. Maximus was forgotten.
But after a while, the girl finally looked at him. Her bright smile froze. Her body stiffened. Her eyes widened as she stared. The resemblance struck her too.
Her heart pounded. An unwanted thought rose inside her, but it was impossible to ignore. Was this man… her father?
Her eyes trembled as she turned back to her mother, silent questions written all over her face.
Elarliya's lips shook. She nodded stiffly. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Maximus's hands trembled as he looked at both of them. His voice cracked as he asked in a broken tone,
"She… is my daughter?"
