Inside the café, Winter sat across from the old man, who hadn't spoken a single word since they arrived.
After dropping Seren off at school, Sylvester had insisted on having a serious conversation. The place he chose was quite a distance from her company, but despite her curiosity, she hadn't questioned him and simply followed.
The silence stretched between them until, finally, he decided to break it.
"I... never got the chance to properly apologize to you," Sylvester said, his voice measured as he met her gaze.
Winter frowned, confusion flickering across her face.
"I can't defend what Rita did," he admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'm not upset with her. What she did was something none of us could have ever imagined."
Winter pressed her lips together, gathering the resolve to speak.
"Regarding that," she interjected, her tone firm but composed, "I don't think it was your fault, Mr. Andreas."
