Chapter 275: Waiting Time

Drystan’s POV

I watched Astrid closely as she stared down at the heart-shaped rock in her hand, her expression distant, brows furrowed together as though the small stone held the answers to all her questions.

The cold breeze swept through the night, rustling the leaves and sending a shiver down my spine, but I ignored it. My focus was solely on her.

“What’s that?” I asked, trying to break the silence that had settled between us.

But she didn’t respond. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice me. I watched as her fingers absentmindedly traced the shape of the stone, and something in her posture felt different—uneasy, troubled.

“Astrid,” I called again, this time louder. “Are you alright?”

She blinked, as though she was suddenly pulled back to reality. “What?” she asked, her eyes darting to me for the first time in what felt like minutes. “Oh… yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

Her answer was vague, and I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t press further. Instead, I took a step closer, hop