Later that afternoon, the corridors of the lab were unusually quiet. Aria had come to visit her father—a man known simply as "Dad" in the family, whose work had always been shrouded in mystery but was, to her, just part of the everyday routine. They met at the main entrance, where her father greeted her with a warm smile and a familiar, reassuring hug.
"Good to see you, sweetheart," he said with a smile, his gray hair seemingly glowing
He was handsome.
Aria returned the hug with equal warmth. "I've missed our talks, Dad," she replied, her voice soft and genuine.
Today wasn't about work or classified projects—just about family and catching up on life.
Their life.
Her father led her down a quiet hallway toward a small, comfortable sitting area away from the busy workstations. The conversation between them was light, filled with everyday observations about life in the city and the small pleasures that made the long days in the lab more bearable.
