Father's Love

Two figures, a man and a woman, stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the trio of children passing before them. The woman's gaze turned icy as it landed on one particular girl, her brown hair catching her attention.

The girl, feeling the weight of the woman's stare, averted her eyes, her trembling gaze betraying her unease. A smug grin crept across the woman's face, satisfied with the effect she had on the girl.

But just as the woman reveled in her triumph, an inexplicable chill ran down her spine, as if a surge of malevolence was directed at her. Startled, the man by her side sensed her distress and urgently called out her name, "Melissa!"

Caught off guard, Melissa snapped back to reality, her composure slowly returning. "What is it, Lord Merek?" she asked, her voice still tinged with confusion.

"What happened?" Merek inquired, his concern evident. "You seemed momentarily stunned."