"But...your father was always cruel to you," Lena mentioned. Renz smiled insincerely and lowered his head.

"He was. And when he was dying, he told me that he loved me. That was the first and only time," Renz replied.

Lena stared at Renz, and she brought her hand to his cheek softly.

"I'm certain he loved you...in his own way," Lena said gently.

"I am not certain of that. But I am certain Jonathan loves you. You're impossible not to love," Renz said.

Lena blinked several times as his words settled between them, and she began feeling more aware, less distant. Every emotion that she'd hidden and suppressed since her...