[Two Days Later]

The Bennett Mansion stood quieter than ever.

Not peaceful.

Just... empty.

Anna stepped out of the car and walked inside, her heels echoing faintly against the marble floors. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves carried the weight of everything that had happened.

Kathrine was already waiting in the living room.

The moment Anna entered, their eyes met—no words needed.

"Where is he?" Anna asked softly.

Kathrine glanced upstairs, her expression tight. "In his room."

Anna nodded once.

No hesitation this time.

She turned and walked toward the staircase, each step feeling heavier than the last.

When she reached the door, she paused.

Locked.

Just as expected.

Knock.

The sound was soft, but it echoed louder than she intended.

Anna leaned slightly closer, her voice calm but firm.

"Dad... it’s me. Anna."

Silence.

A few seconds passed.

Then more.

Anna exhaled slowly, already preparing herself for no response—just like every other time.

But then—

Click.

The lock turned.

Anna stilled.

For a moment, she simply stood there, staring at the door as if unsure whether it had truly opened for her.

Then the faint creak pulled her out of her thoughts.

She pushed the door open slowly.

The room was dim, curtains half-drawn, sunlight barely filtering through. And there, by the window, stood Hugo.

His back faced her.

His shoulders—once always straight, always commanding—now slumped.

Weakened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence between them wasn’t unfamiliar.

But today... it felt different.

Heavier.

Anna stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

She hesitated.

Because this—this was unfamiliar territory.

They had never been close.

Never shared warmth.

Only distance... and unspoken tension.

But seeing him like this—

Broken.

It stirred something in her chest.

"How long do you plan on isolating yourself?" she finally asked, keeping her tone steady.

Hugo didn’t respond immediately.

Then slowly, he spoke.

"As long as it takes for me to find peace."

His voice was hoarse.

Tired.

And when he finally turned around—

Anna’s breath hitched.

His eyes were red.

Glossed with unshed tears.

This was not the man she had known.

Not the man filled with pride and authority.

This was someone else.

Someone... shattered.

Hugo looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, words seemed to fail him.

Then he took a slow step forward.

"Anna..." his voice broke slightly.

She remained still, her gaze steady.

"I..." He exhaled, dragging a hand over his face as if struggling to hold himself together. "I don’t know where to begin."

The room fell silent again.

Then—

"I was wrong."

The words came out heavy.

"I was wrong about you. About everything."

Anna didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t react.

She simply listened.

"I let lies cloud my judgment," Hugo continued, his voice trembling now. "I believed things I shouldn’t have... I chose to see you as the enemy."

His jaw tightened.

"And because of that... I hurt you."

A pause.

A painful one.

"I failed you."

Anna’s fingers curled slightly at her sides, but her expression remained composed.

Hugo took another step closer, his eyes filled with something she had never seen before.

Regret.

"I don’t expect you to forgive me," he said quietly. "But... if there is even the smallest chance—"

His voice faltered.

"—please... forgive me, Anna."

The words lingered in the air.

Heavy.

Raw.

For a moment, Anna said nothing.

She looked at him—really looked at him.

At the man who had once stood against her.

The man who had doubted her, judged her... hurt her.

And yet—

Standing here now, he didn’t look like someone who needed blame.

He looked like someone who had already punished himself far more than anyone else could.

Anna exhaled slowly.

"You’re asking the wrong person for forgiveness."

Hugo froze.

Her words clearly not what he expected.

Anna stepped closer, her voice calm—but firm.

"I’m not the one you wronged the most."

Hugo’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Daniel..." she continued. "And Norma."

The names hit harder than anything else.

"Daniel lost his father because of everything that happened," Anna said, her voice steady but carrying weight. "And Norma... she lived with the truth all this time."

Hugo’s gaze dropped.

Guilt flickering across his face once again.

Anna softened slightly—but only just.

"As for me..." she paused.

Her eyes met his again.

"Forgiveness isn’t something I can give you instantly."

Hugo’s chest tightened.

"But that doesn’t mean I won’t ever forgive you."

His head snapped up slightly.

Anna’s voice gentled, though it remained honest.

"It will take time."

Silence filled the room.

But this time...

It wasn’t suffocating.

It was real.

"And you need to understand something," Anna added, her gaze unwavering.

Hugo looked at her, confusion and pain still lingering in his eyes.

"You weren’t the real culprit."

He stilled.

Anna continued, each word deliberate.

"You were manipulated."

The truth settled between them.

"Everything you did..." she said, "you believed you were protecting your daughter."

Kathrine.

Hugo’s breath faltered.

"And that doesn’t make you evil," Anna said quietly. "It makes you human."

A tear finally slipped down Hugo’s face.

Anna took one final step closer.

"But isolating yourself like this..." she glanced around the dim room. "Punishing yourself endlessly—"

Her voice softened.

"—that’s not going to fix anything."

Hugo’s shoulders trembled slightly.

For the first time in days...

It felt like something inside him was breaking free.

"Come out of this," Anna said gently. "Face them. Face yourself."

A pause.

Then, softer—

"You still have a chance to make things right."

Hugo closed his eyes, his chest rising unevenly.

For days, he had been drowning in guilt.

In regret.

In self-hatred.

But now...for the first time there was something else.

A way forward.

When he opened his eyes again, they were still filled with pain.

But no longer empty.

And Anna—

She didn’t turn away. Not this time.

***

Kathrine who was pacing downstairs finally stopped when her eyes caught the sight of Hugo coming downstairs.

"Girls let’s have breakfast together "