#Chapter 544: Renewed Bond

Nina I stared vacantly at the gently rippling surface of the pool, watching as the underwater lights cast an eerie blue glow across the water. My feet were dipped into the water, creating more ripples as I slowly swirled them around beneath the surface. It was incredibly warm out—maybe one of the hottest days we had had so far this summer. But instead of enjoying the refreshing pool water and laughing with my friends, I was crying. Tears slipped silently down my cheeks, carving glistening paths that caught the light before plopping soundlessly into the pool. I knew that this was pointless and pathetic, that sitting out here wallowing wouldn’t change anything. But I felt trapped, paralyzed by the weight of my spiraling thoughts and the physical limitations of my pregnancy. My father was still missing—quite possibly dead—and with each passing day, the chances of his return grew more and more slim. The possibility of having to step into his role, of taking on the mantle of