Ophelia's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar tone.
Ophelia's breath caught in her throat as she turned around and saw her past standing before her in the flesh.
The air in the garden felt charged with tension as their eyes met, each woman carrying the weight of their shared history.
"Claudia," Ophelia acknowledged, her voice steady but tinged with a mix of emotions.
Claudia approached with a tentative smile, a mixture of guilt and uncertainty in her eyes. "Ophelia, I... I didn't expect to see you here."
"Life has a way of surprising us," Ophelia replied, her expression guarded.
Claudia's blonde hair cascaded in gentle waves around her shoulders, catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the garden's foliage. Her piercing blue eyes, reminiscent of a cloudless sky, held a hint of sorrow as they locked onto Ophelia's.
