"I… am…" Emilia muttered, not sure if he was sincere, but it looked like he was.
It had been almost ten years since the both of them had ever spoken like this to each other, but she remembered the last time she asked for his help, he denied her.
Lucas stepped forward, noticing her hesitation, and pulled her into his arms.
Emilia felt her breath leave her lungs.
His embrace was firm, steady, sheltering her whole body completely. Her anger dissolved into a sob against his chest.
Emilia closed her eyes, surprised she still fell for it. In the past, he always managed to calm her with one embrace, and ten years after, she was still vulnerable to it.
"I want to help… as a friend," he mumbled in her ear.
Emilia froze, opening her eyes quickly.
As a friend?
Before she could respond, hurried footsteps approached, and she pulled away from his arms.
Thomas and June rushed toward them.
"The road is blocked," Thomas reported, breathless.
"What do you mean?" Lucas demanded.
