Soren quickly recovered his composure, closing the door softly behind him. He walked forward, extending a hand to exchange a respectful handshake with the older man.
"Father-in-law," Soren said, keeping his voice steady despite the questions immediately racing through his mind.
'Why is he here? Could it be that he really was watching us this whole time? Was my suspicion about him correct?...'
Out of the corner of his eye, Soren glanced toward the bed. Ethea still hadn't woken up yet, breathing softly under the blankets. A faint ripple in the air around the bedside indicated that a new sound barrier had been set up, sealing her off from their conversation.
Darius released his hand, his eyes scanning Soren with genuine concern. "How are you holding up, Soren? Shouldn't you be resting right now?"
