After asking everyone out of the room, Roland gave his daughter a tender smile.
"Don't be scared," Roland whispered, gently clasping Scarlett's hand. "I won't leave you until I reunite with your mother." His words faltered, deepening Scarlett's worry.
Cough!
Cough!
Scarlett fought back tears, clenching her fists tightly as she watched her father's pained expression.
Roland's words marked the second time she'd heard such a promise. The first time, it had come from Jonathan Piers, the man she'd known as her father since birth. Now, she heard them from the father she'd only recently met.
It was difficult for Scarlett to imagine losing her father again. Her grief would surely be long-lasting. As she feels to this day, the sadness of losing Jonathan Piers still often hits her.
Scarlett attempted to speak several times, but her words remained trapped within her for some reason. She was rendered speechless.
