"Dad? You good?" Emma asked, noticing he seemed to zone out. "You were totally lost in thought."
Alexander forced a smile. "Just thinking about how fast you've grown up. Seems like just yesterday you were starting elementary school."
"And now I'm going for my master's," Emma said proudly. "In computer science, can you believe it? Who would've thought all those hours you spent teaching me coding would actually pay off?"
I knew, Alexander thought. I made sure of it.
Every skill he taught her, coding, languages, and games designed to sharpen her awareness of her surroundings, was all planned to help her survive in a dangerous world.
Just in case his past ever caught up with them.
"I always knew you'd be amazing," he said honestly.
Emma beamed at him, her trusting smile hitting him right in the feels.
She loves me, he realized. Completely. Unconditionally.
And she has no idea who I really am.
*****
In the calm of her hospital room, Ayla's eyes finally opened.
