Theon held his breath. The world around him seemed to slow, the sounds of the room fading into a distant hum. He stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the woman in front of him. She was nothing like the person he remembered. Months ago, even though she had been weak and sick, she always had that sharp edge. Always wrapped in baggy clothes and filled with defiance. But now—something had shifted.

She stood differently. In a more softer way. Her presence carried a quiet weight he hadn't noticed before. Her hair had grown past her shoulders, falling in soft waves that caught the light. It framed her face, highlighting features...