Chapter 158 Rose’s Daughter-In-Law
Athena instinctively stepped back, her eyes following Herman’s hand as it reached out, trembling with desperation. The sudden shift in his focus made the air thick with tension. Rose, still in a state of emotional turmoil, turned to look at Athena before quickly glancing back at the old man, who seemed to be fixated on something—or someone—beyond her.
The medical staff rushed to his side, trying to calm him, but Herman was relentless, his eyes locked on the empty space behind Rose. His voice, though weak, carried a sense of urgency that felt out of place in such a frail body.
“She’s… here,” Herman rasped, his voice breaking with emotion. “I… I know she’s here.”
Rose’s face paled, and for a moment, Athena wondered if Rose thought the old man had finally lost his mind. But there was something in the way he spoke—something familiar in the intensity of his gaze—that suggested he was seeing more than just the present moment.
Athena glanced around the room, her eyes scanning for any clue as to what had caused this reaction. The room was quiet except for the frantic beeping of the machines, and the medical staff worked quickly to stabilize Herman. Rose seemed paralyzed by his words, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“Who? Who are you seeing?” Rose’s voice was barely above a whisper, almost afraid to ask the question.
Herman’s hand continued to reach out, his fingers twitching as if trying to grasp something invisible in the air. His chest heaved with shallow breaths, and for a moment, it seemed like he might slip away without answering.
Suddenly, his hand fell limp to his side, and the room fell into an eerie silence. Athena held her breath, waiting, watching, as the medical staff quickly began their efforts to revive him. But before they could administer any further treatment, Herman’s weak voice pierced the silence once more, barely audible but heavy with emotion.
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t… keep my promise,” he muttered, his eyes never leaving the spot he had been staring at. “But she was… here… I know it.”
Rose’s face twisted with grief, and she dropped to her knees beside the bed, her composure shattered. “Herman, please…” Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. Please, forgive me…”
Athena stood there, her heart heavy with the weight of the moment. She could see the agony in Rose’s eyes—agony that went beyond just the regret of losing someone. It was the anguish of a mistake that had cost more than she could bear. The man who had been like a father to her had just revealed a truth she hadn’t been ready to face—the truth that someone from her past was still with her in spirit.
And yet, the mystery of this “she” remained unsolved.
The medical staff, recognizing that Herman’s time was running out, quietly withdrew, giving the room some space. Athena exchanged a glance with Rose, unsure of what to say. It was clear that whatever Herman had been trying to communicate, it was something that would have to wait.
Minutes passed. Then, as if fighting against the inevitable, Herman’s eyes fluttered open again, this time with a clarity that seemed almost surreal. His voice was faint but strong.
“Tell her… she is still alive,” he whispered.
Rose froze, her breath catching in her throat. “Who? Who are you talking about?”
But Herman’s eyes closed once more, and his hand fell from the air, his final breath escaping him in a quiet exhale. The machines blared once again, signaling the end.
The room grew silent, save for the soft weeping of Rose. Athena stood by, feeling the weight of the moment like a heavy stone. There were no more answers, just an unresolved mystery.
The words “she is still alive” echoed in Athena’s mind. Who was this person? Was she truly still alive, as Herman claimed? And if so, what had happened to her? These questions hung in the air, unanswered, as the night seemed to stretch on forever.
Rose, broken but determined, slowly stood, wiping her tears away. “I have to find her, Athena. I have to. Even if it means losing everything, I need to find her.”
Athena nodded silently. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure—Rose was not going to give up on this search, no matter how painful the journey.
“We will find her,” Athena said softly, her voice full of quiet resolve.
And with that, they left the room, the weight of the night settling in, but the beginning of a new chapter unfolding—one that would take them into the depths of the past, searching for someone who had been lost for far too long.