Raika and Dr. Gaxa sat across from each other at the grand dining table, the room filled with an air of tentative peace. The guards stood silently by the walls, their stern expressions softened by the warmth of the reunion.
Dr. Gaxa, cutting into his steak, glanced up at Raika. "I'm truly sorry for what happened yesterday," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "I never meant to hurt you, my darling daughter. Please forgive me."
Raika, taking a bit longer to respond, finally looked up from her plate. "It's okay, Father," she said softly. "Misunderstandings happen." She offered him a small, tentative smile.
Dr. Gaxa's eyes lit up at her smile. "You know," he said, leaning back in his chair, "you're even cuter when you smile."
Raika felt her cheeks flush with color. "No, I'm not," she protested, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
