“Chloe.”Chloe stood in her father’s ICU room, her pulse racing as her father’s voice hung in the air. She felt a myriad of emotions swirl within her as she moved closer, feeling her brothers at her side. Adam and Francis were quiet, each as caught in the weight of the moment as she was. And then, for the first time, her father’s eyes turned fully to her, his gaze heavy with enexpressed feelings.“Chloe,” he repeated, softer this time, as if her name were something sacred, a memory he was trying to bring back to life. His voice carried a feeling she could not fully identify—somewhere between awe and sadness.She took another step closer, gripping her cane tightly. “Father,” she whispered, the word strange on her tongue. She’d never thought of what she was going to call him, and yet now, it was the only word that fit.The seconds felt stretched as he looked at her, his gaze lingering on her face, taking in every detail as if seeing her for the first time. Chloe felt a flicker of unea
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