âRaegan, this is Davey, a longtime family friend and close associate of my fatherâs.
â Stefan maintained a tranquil demeanor, but his hand was stealthily positioned to support Raeganâs back, offering a silent gesture of protection.
Raegan had been leaning on him for support just moments before.
Concealed beneath the elegant folds of her wedding dress, Raeganâs faint tremors were observed only by Stefan.
She was scared.
He was puzzled for a second.
Why would she fear Davey? They had never met before.
Raegan sensed Stefanâs intentions and, with Stefanâs support, her fear began to recede.
She collected herself and extended a courteous greeting, âDavey, Iâm Raegan.
â
Raeganâs gentle voice disarmed Davey, softening his heart for a moment.
He pondered, if that little girl had survived, sheâd be roughly Raeganâs age by now.
She must be stunning, with her parentsâ genes.
âDavey, then Iâll take Raegan back to rest now,â Stefan said, preparing to leave.
Daveyâs gaze intensified, his piercing eyes seeming to see beyond Raeganâs wedding dress, as if glimpsing a hidden truth.
He said, âMiss Foster, youâre with child.
Your health is paramount.
Beware of colds, for the babyâs sake.
â
Raeganâs heart skipped a beat once more Whenever Davey mentioned her baby, Raegan sensed a hint of menace in his tone, which made her uneasy.
Stefan stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Raegan, his voice calm and reassuring.
âIâll keep her safe.
Donât worry.
â
Daveyâs Lips curled into a wry smile as he uttered a dry, âNot bad.
â
âPlease, enjoy yourself,â Stefan said to Davey, offering Raegan his arm and escorting her away.
Just a few paces away, a young man burst into a sprint, his arms open wide, ready to envelop Raegan in a warm embrace.
Stefanâs brow furrowed, and he swiftly extended his arm, halting the young manâs eager approach with a firm but gentle gesture.
Bryceâs face flushed with embarrassment as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, his greeting trailing off with a hesitant.
âRaeganâ¦â
Raeganâs face lit up with a warm smile.
âBryce, what are you doing here?â
âHectorâs tied up, and I happened to be in the area on vacation, so I thought Iâd drop by,â Bryce said cheerfully.
Who would have imagined that the former troublemaker, once notorious for dodging his studies, had now achieved a masterâs degree?
After entering university, Bryce discovered a passion for scientific inquiry, delving deeply into research and becoming utterly absorbed in its pursuit.
After years of intense study, their paths finally crossed again when Raegan returned to Ardlens, and Bryce reached out to her through email, rekindling their connection.
Despite years apart, their connection felt natural and effortless, like no time had passed at all, and they slipped back into each otherâs company with effortless ease, no awkwardness whatsoever.
Stefan, noticing the chill in the air, concern etched on his face, suggested, âLetâs move inside to talk.
â
âOkay, letâs go.
â
Then, side by side, the three of them walked in together.
Unbeknownst to the trio, Davey lingered behind, his eyes fixed on Bryce with an intensity that bordered on fascination.
Raeganâs presence evoked a sense of familiarity, reminding Davey of Casey, but Bryceâs demeanor struck a deeper chord, echoing memories of his own youthful persona.
The feeling of familiarity lingered, and Davey couldnât shake it off.