Freya’s Third Person POV

Freya sat down on the edge of the battered sofa, her fingers gripping the edge of the worn cushion. Her mother settled into an armchair across from her, the weight of unspoken truths pulling her shoulders low. Draven lingered in the corner, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed as though bracing himself for what was to come.

Freya’s voice broke the heavy silence. “Start from the beginning, Mother. What happened after...after you were gone?”

Her mother sighed deeply, the sound carrying years of suppressed pain. “After I was gone?” she echoed bitterly. “You mean after your father made sure you thought I was dead.”

Freya’s...