Chapter 30

The soft glow of the apartment's lighting cascaded over Jayden's face as he sat on the edge of his couch, a smartphone clutched in his hand. His father's images with the mysterious woman lingered on the screen, evoking a mixture of detachment and vague intrigue.

" Finally, " he muttered once more, the words slipping out with a blend of resignation and indifference. Bryan, his father, had been elusive about his personal life since Jayden's mother's passing. It seemed a positive shift that Bryan was seeking companionship, but Jayden's emotions remained in a state of equilibrium.

" It's about time he moved on, " he mused, a flicker of ambivalence dancing in his eyes. His father deserved happiness after years of solitude, yet Jayden's own sentiments toward the matter were muted.

As Jayden gazed at the photos, an itch of familiarity pricked at him. The woman's obscured visage left him restless, a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. He leaned in closer to the screen, squinting as if a sharper f