Rina sat on the old couch, pulling a blanket over her shoulders as she looked across the room at Eric. He had been quiet for a while, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, staring at the floor like he was lost in thought.
She hesitated before asking, "What about you, Eric? What's your life been like all these years?"
Eric let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's been… complicated."
Rina frowned. "You never talked about it before. I figured you just didn't want to."
He gave her a small, humorless smile. "Not much to say. My wife—Lena—was killed by Collaway a long time ago."
Rina's breath caught. "Eric…"
He shook his head. "It's fine. It was years ago. But it still feels like yesterday, you know?" He sighed, looking away. "She was everything. Strong, smart… she could see through people in a second. That's probably why Collaway had her killed. She was too dangerous for him."
Rina swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry."
Eric nodded but didn't respond for a moment. Then, after a pause, he said, "Our daughter—Raine—she's alive."
Rina's eyes widened. "You have a daughter?"
Eric smirked slightly. "Yeah. She's living in Asia with Mina."
Rina sat up straighter. "Mina? You still talk to her?"
"She's the only reason Raine is still breathing," Eric admitted. "After Lena died, I couldn't keep her safe. Mina took her in, raised her away from all this."
Rina exhaled. "I never thought I'd hear her name again."
Eric chuckled. "Mina's still Mina. Tough as hell. Won't take orders from anyone."
Rina smiled faintly at that. "Sounds about right."
Eric looked at her carefully. "She asks about you sometimes."
Rina's chest ached. "And what do you tell her?"
"That you're alive."
Rina lowered her gaze. "I don't know if she'd want to see me."
Eric shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But she never stopped caring."
Silence stretched between them for a moment before Rina asked, "And Celeste?"
Eric sighed. "Celeste and Andrew have a daughter now."
Rina blinked. "Rea?"
He nodded. "Yeah. She's tough. Sharp, like Celeste. But she's got Andrew's heart, whether she admits it or not."
Rina sat back, trying to process it all. "So much has changed."
Eric's expression softened. "Yeah. But some things haven't."
Rina met his gaze. "Like what?"
Eric smirked. "Like you being stubborn as hell."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're one to talk."
For the first time in years, the tension between them eased. And for a moment, despite everything, Rina felt like she had a piece of her family back.