Chapter 14
As Evelyn Harper's plane touched down at the airport, she felt nervous and excited. She was returning to Silverwood after being away for several years. She wondered how her father, Jacob, the leader of the Hunters, would react to her unexpected arrival. Evelyn knew that her departure from Silverwood had caused an issue between her and her father, and she hoped that time apart had softened his heart towards her.
She wasn’t expecting to see two tall, well-built men waiting at the gate as she stepped off the plane. Their clothes had the Hunters logo sewn in them, making it easier for her to identify them, and their faces held a serious expression. Evelyn immediately recognised them as her father's trusted guards, Samuel and Gabriel.
"Miss Harper?" Samuel spoke deeply but respectfully. "Your father has sent us to escort you to Silverwood."
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat, unsure of how to react. She hadn't anticipated her father sending his guards to fetch her. But he cared enough to take such measures to make her happy.
"Of course," she replied, trying to maintain composure. "Lead the way."
They made their way through the bustling airport and into a waiting car. As they drove towards Silverwood, she couldn't help but feel worried. She had no idea how her reunion with her father would be, but she hoped it would be a chance to heal the wounds of the past.
As they approached Silverwood, the dense forest appeared, and Evelyn's heart swelled excitedly. Her childhood memories flooded back, and she longed to reconnect with her roots. When they finally reached, she took a deep breath to steady herself.
As she exited the car, Evelyn was met with curious glances from other Hunters who recognised her as their leader’s daughter. She could remember some faces, but others she couldn’t.
Looking around the settlement, she spotted a familiar figure approaching her. It was her mother, Sarah. Even after all these years, Sarah's grace and beauty had not reduced, and Evelyn's heart swelled with love and longing as she saw her approach.
"Evelyn, my dear!" Sarah called out, her voice filled with joy.
Tears welled up in Evelyn's eyes as she rushed to embrace her mother. The years melted away as they held each other tightly, and at that moment, all she felt was happiness and comfort.
"Oh, Mom," Evelyn whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I've missed you so much."
Sarah pulled back slightly to look at her daughter, her eyes filled with love and pride. "And I've missed you too, my darling. Having you back in Silverwood fills my heart with so much joy."
Evelyn smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude for her mother's words. "I've learned so much during my time away, Mom, but being back here in Silverwood feels like coming home."
Sarah nodded, her eyes shining with love. "And you are home, Evelyn. Your place is here with us, and I hope you'll always remember that."
“Where is Father?” Evelyn asked, looking around curiously.
“Your father is at home. Let's go see him”. Sarah replied, smiling.
As they reached the house, she was nervous and scared of what she would expect, but her mom encouraged her to go in while she stayed behind. Her heart pounding, she entered her father's house. Jacob was standing by the fireplace, deep in thought.
"Dad?" she said softly.
He turned around, and his face showed surprise, relief, and maybe a bit of regret.
"Evelyn, you're back," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. "Yes, Dad, I am. I am so sorry."
He pulled her into a hug, and they held each other tightly.
"I'm sorry too, Evelyn," Jacob whispered. "I should have supported your desire to explore the world. But I let my duties blind me."
She looked at him tearfully. "It's okay, Dad. We both made mistakes. All that is in the past now can we move on from that." She asked hopefully while staring at her dad.
He nodded, looking relieved. "Yes, we can. I've missed you and want to see you happy."
Her smile returned as she felt a sense of forgiveness and a fresh start. "I've missed you too, Dad." She replied, hugging him close to her.