Emma’s POV

However, as I got to know him better, I realized that Joseph had a lot of wounds. Wounds that would never heal. There was a heavy burden that he carried, and he always tried to hide it behind his calm demeanor.

A while ago, Joseph came to see me again. He looked weaker than I had ever seen him before. His face, which had always hidden his emotions, now showed a deep weariness. He didn’t say much, but his presence was enough to shake me. I could see the pain in his eyes—a pain that made me wonder if he’d ever truly healed from his past.

Joseph was...