Debriefing

The dining room becomes crowded with all the people frantically waiting for Rosa and Athena's safe return. No one talks while eating. They try to sense the mood of Rosa and Athena.

Hermes keeps looking at Rosa's hands. Apart from it, no one dares to ask Rosa about the details of their abduction. They let her peacefully enjoy her meal.

Rosa realizes, she and Athena have not eaten for more than a day already. She gazes at Athena eating faster than usual, Nana Amor sitting beside the little girl puts, away the wristwatch from her hand.

The dinner ends with a variety of desserts. Dravio orders their head chef for a cart of desserts delivered at the Andrei's Villa.

Athena's eyes widen when Dravio brings to her a chocolate pudding then he hands to his sister her favorite strawberry cream cheese. The rest feast on the other desserts like almond nuts apple pie, triple dark chocolate in peppermint bark, eggnog cake, truffle chocolate marshmallow, jelly fruit cake, cranberry sour cream kuchen, and for the health-conscious - coffee jelly with stevia sweetener.

Everyone's mood gets uplifted after dinner. They understand how tired Rosa and Athena must have been after their ordeal. Madam Desta and Brie hug Rosa before leaving. They also give Athena a big hug. Athena did not protest. Rather, she winds her arms to them.

Violet gives her phone to Rosa. "Mia Rosa, Grandma can finally relax that you are safe."

"I am sorry Grandma. Did I make you nervous? Don't worry anymore, alright. I'll visit you soon. I miss you."

Rosa's eyes glisten with tears. She faces her family. "Papa, Mama, Brother. Thank you."

They hug Rosa tightly and say goodbye to let her rest.

Graysen brings Rosa to the room. Once he closes the door, he cups his wife's face. He kisses her first on the forehead, to the cheeks, chin, and pecks her lips. He leans his forehead on her.

"I was so frightened that I might not see you both alive." He encloses Rosa to his arms. "I feel grateful and blessed that we reached you in time."

He leads her to the sofa and puts her on his lap. He caresses her hair. "Can you narrate to me the details of what happened there?"

Rosa puts her arms around Graysen and leans on his chest. "They put black clothes on our head and only removed it when we were already inside that place. There was no window in the room so I cannot see anything outside to help me tell the time. All I remember was I heard crushing dried leaves on the ground while walking."

I saw a chance for us to escape but one of them went back from a phone call with the order to kill us. He caught us escaping and pushed me hard on the floor. They plan to defile me. I kept kicking them but Athena saved me. She precisely fired at each of them so they did not succeed."

Graysen lets out a deep sigh and tightens his arms around his wife. "I am thinking of bringing you both to a psychologist. It will help you overcome your trauma."

Rosa lifts her head to look at him. "Do you remember when I went on a retreat after my miscarriage? It will be better if I go back there with Athena. This time you have to come, too."

"Sure. Anything for the both of my girls."