Laura froze for a second.

His name still echoed through the room, too heavy to be just a surprise.

“Edgar?” she repeated, this time more quietly, as if she needed to confirm she wasn't imagining things.

He stood only a few steps away.

He didn't move closer.

He didn't smile.

His hands remained buried in his pockets, his body rigid, his eyes locked on her as though he had been waiting for this moment for years.

“Welcome home, my love,” he finally said, his voice low. “At last, we're going to talk