As the footsteps drew nearer, the familiar scent of citrus and vanilla filled my senses, instantly recognizable as my mother's fragrance. "Mother," I muttered under my breath, my heart yearning to run to her embrace. But an invisible force seemed to hold me back, keeping me rooted to my seat.

Despite the pull towards my mother, I couldn't shake off the weight of Kessler's intense gaze, his eyes locked on me with a mixture of emotions.

As my uncle and mother settled at the table, I couldn't ...