Truth Sneaks Out

ATHENA'S POV.

I couldn't believe my eyes. His body was still warm, so why…

“Bronch.” I called again, shaking his shoulder. He still didn't move. “Bronch!” I called harder, shaking him vigorously.

A sleeping person should have woken up by then. I just couldn't bring myself to face the fact that he could be gone, just like Earnshaw, and Gary.

Bronch, who had come to the Palace the previous day with dear Dorothy to see Tristan. He had smiled at me and joked with my baby, who probably couldn't hear a word of what he was saying.

How could he suddenly be gone, just like that?

No. He was probably in a deep sleep.

I tried to fool myself because even if I felt bad, I didn't want to imagine how Tristan would feel. No, he couldn't lose someone else again. He couldn't.

How was he going to cope with the loss?

Even though I could see his chest clearly stiff and not rising, even though I could easily put my finger to his nose to check if he was breathing, I didn't.

It was only after two minut