198. The Things He No Longer Pretends

Roman

For a moment, time holds. Mila crashes into him with the full force of familiarity, arms wrapping around his torso, her small frame trembling, her voice breaking as she clings to him like nothing has changed.

“Daddy…”

The word lands. Heavy and loaded. Once, it would have undone him. Once, he would have dropped everything, questions, pride and reason, just to steady her, to reassure her, to remind her that she was safe. But now…

Now he stands ...