Phoenix's eyes brightened, and she watched Alaric walk to her. "It took some time for you to come back?" he inquired, taking the flower-filled basket from her grasp.
"Well, I was being cautious about which flower to choose," she said with a smile.
Phoenix had been trying to hide her grief behind a smile, but Alaric's perceptive eyes saw right through her attempts.
"I understand you are upset that you did not grant our daughter's request." He made Phoenix look at him when he said, "But that does not mean you are a bad mother. You needed to do it," he added.
Phoenix's eyes glistened with agony, and then tears started to fall. "She was desperately calling me, Alaric. Do you know what that implies? Ariana has finally realized that I was the one who spoke to her in her dreams," she said.
