Axel watches the last embers die out in the bathtub, ensuring every last piece of information is gone. The weight in his chest doesn't ease, but at least now, there's no physical proof left. He grabs the showerhead, turns on the water, and rinses the ashes down the drain. The smell of burnt paper lingers, but it's better than leaving a trace.
When the last remnants are washed away, he shuts off the water and leans against the cool tiles, dragging a hand down his face. His mind is still racing, trying to make sense of what he's just erased.
Elion and Raelynn… together? In the same hotel? The same hospital?
His gut tells him there's a connection, but his brain refuses to accept it. Raelynn having Elion's child? Impossible. It doesn't add up.
Yet, the coincidences keep stacking.
Axel exhales sharply and steps out of the tub. He wraps a towel around his shoulders, grabs his toothbrush, and stares at himself in the mirror. He looks exhausted.
