Emberlyn quietly walked up to Ethan while the children played nearby, their laughter filling the air. She took a deep breath, her heart beating faster than usual.

  "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked softly, then stepped outside without waiting for his answer.

  Ethan watched her go, hope flickering in his eyes. He followed her quietly, curiosity and longing written all over his face.

  "Come with me," he said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know the perfect spot."

  Emberlyn walked behind him, her eyes fixed on his back. His confident walk made her wonder,

  Is he really the same awkward man from back then? He feels completely different now.

  She watched his shoulders, strong and steady.

  He seems so powerful. The kids said he's a great hunter… and they wouldn't lie about something like that.

  Lost in her thoughts, Emberlyn almost bumped into Ethan when he suddenly turned around. She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks warming.

  "Emberlyn?" Ethan's voice was gentle.

  "I wasn't staring at you!" Emberlyn blurted out defensively, her face betraying her with a deep blush.

  Ethan chuckled softly. "That's not what I meant," he said with amusement in his eyes. "I just wanted to tell you… we're here."

  Emberlyn's face turned even redder. She quickly walked past him and sat down on a wooden bench, trying to hide her embarrassment.

  Why am I acting like this around him?

  Ethan couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked when flustered, just like she used to be when they first met.

  Once seated, Emberlyn gasped as she finally took in the breathtaking panorama before her.

  "It's... beautiful!" she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment.

  The vast forest stretched out like an endless green sea. The peaceful, mesmerizing scenery seemed to reach into her soul, with ancient trees swaying in the gentle breeze and birds creating a natural symphony. Golden sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating dancing patterns on the forest floor.

  "How did you find this place?"

  Ethan sat beside her, leaving just enough space between them, close but not touching. The air seemed to crackle with unspoken words.

  Emberlyn's mind began to spin. Is this... a date? Her heart pounded against her ribs at the thought, and she struggled to steady her breathing.

  They sat together in comfortable silence that felt strangely familiar, each lost in their own thoughts. Emberlyn felt an unusual calm wash over her, a peace she hadn't felt in a very long time. Being near Ethan brought a strange sense of comfort, like returning to a home she'd forgotten she had.

  "I'm sorry," Ethan said suddenly, breaking the silence.

  "Huh?" Emberlyn looked up, confusion written across her face.

  "I'm sorry for what I did two years ago," he continued, looking straight ahead.

  "I wasn't thinking clearly then. I was desperate." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Please forget it. What I said back then... wasn't true."

  So it really was him! Emberlyn thought, her pulse quickening.

  Does that mean the story about his wife isn't true either? A spark of hope lit up her face before she could hide it.

  "So, about your wife—" Emberlyn stopped mid-sentence when she saw Ethan pull out a necklace from under his shirt. A simple gold ring hung from it.

  The sight hit her like a punch to the gut. Oh, she thought, her hope crumbling. So the wife does exist after all.

  She had been foolishly hoping she might become friends with Ethan, maybe even get to know him better. But now that she was certain he had a wife, it seemed impossible. She didn't want to be seen as someone trying to steal another woman's husband.

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  Ethan looked at Emberlyn, noticing her sudden change in expression. "What were you saying?" he asked, not having caught her words clearly.

  "I asked what happened to your wife?" Emberlyn quickly adjusted her question, forcing a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes.

  "She disappeared," he said simply, his fingers absently stroking the ring.

  "Disappeared?" Emberlyn repeated, leaning forward slightly.

  "She's close but very far," Ethan said cryptically, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "She knows me, but she doesn't remember me."

  "What? What do you mean?" Emberlyn grew even more confused by his mysterious words, but something about them tugged at her heart.

  "Forget it!" Ethan replied with a quick smile that didn't hide the pain in his eyes. "I'm just talking nonsense."

  Emberlyn could see through his act.

  Behind that smile was something heavy, something deeply sad. Behind those kind eyes lay a story filled with heartache. For reasons she couldn't explain, it made her own chest ache too.

  "Maybe you can tell me about your wife!" she offered impulsively, leaning closer.

  "I'm an S-rank hunter, you know. Maybe, I can help you find her!" Her eyes shone with genuine determination to help this man who seemed both like a stranger and familiar at the same time.

  Hearing that, Ethan laughed a full, genuine laugh that transformed his face.

  It's you! It's always been you!

  He screamed internally, the irony almost too much to bear.

  "Why are you laughing?" Emberlyn demanded, crossing her arms with a pout. "I'm serious about helping you! S-rank hunters can find anyone!"

  "Okay, okay!" Ethan raised his hands in surrender, still smiling.

  "Where should I start?" he wondered, carefully thinking about what he could tell Emberlyn about their past without overwhelming her. He needed to weave a story that was true yet concealed enough...

  Ethan began speaking, his voice rich with emotion and memories.

  "My wife was also a great hunter… the best, actually. We lived deep in the forest, where no one knew we were married. It was our precious secret." He smiled at a memory only he could see.

  "I was the cook, and I did all the housework. Every morning, I would cook for her because she was hopeless in the kitchen, she once burned water, if you can believe it."

  Emberlyn listened intently, her curiosity growing with each word.

  So there really are women who can't cook, she thought with relief, thinking about her own terrible cooking skills.

  "While she went out hunting," Ethan continued, his gaze distant, "I would take care of our home. When night came, I would wait by the window for her to come back. Our life was simple, but it was ours."

  "She was my whole world," Ethan continued, "and I did everything I could to make her life easier, to take away any burden she didn't need to carry."

  Ethan paused, a bittersweet smile on his lips as he remembered.

  "Those evenings were my favorite moment of each day. We would sit together by the firelight, have dinner, and she would tell me about her adventures. Her strength and toughness always amazed me. She was truly extraordinary like fire in human form."

  As he spoke, his eyes briefly looked at Emberlyn's flame-red hair.

  Emberlyn felt a strange ache in her chest. The way Ethan spoke of his wife, with such deep love and admiration, stirred something inside her, a feeling of emptiness she hadn't known was there.

  She couldn't help but wonder about the life Ethan described and part of her wanted to be loved like that, with such complete devotion.

  Ethan's voice grew softer, more vulnerable as he continued, "One day, I waited for her like usual. I had prepared her favorite meal, lit candles, everything was perfect. I was so excited to see her smile, to hear her laugh, to do all the little things we did every night. But from that night on... everything changed."

  His voice cracked slightly, "she never came home."

  Emberlyn's throat tightened as she listened, the raw pain in Ethan's eyes making her own eyes sting unshed with tears.

  Ethan looked down at the necklace he held, his fingers tenderly caressing the simple gold band.

  "This ring is the only thing I have left of her, of us. I keep it close to my heart, hoping that someday she'll remember and return to me."

  Tears filled Emberlyn's eyes, one escaping down her cheek before she could stop it.

  "I'm so sorry, Ethan," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't imagine how painful this must be for you."

  Ethan tried to smile, reaching out instinctively to brush away her tears before catching himself and pulling back.

  "Thank you, Emberlyn. It means more than you know that you care." His eyes held hers for a moment too long. "I know it sounds strange, but talking to you about her makes it feel like she's still here with me somehow."

  They sat in heavy silence, the air between them thick with unspoken feelings. Emberlyn felt drawn to Ethan in a way she couldn't explain as if an invisible thread connected them.

  "So, you became stronger for her?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.

  "Yes," Ethan answered without hesitation.

  "Because before, she was always the one protecting me. Now it's my turn to protect her, to save her before she drifts even further away." His eyes met Emberlyn's with unwavering determination.

  "You know," he continued, his voice gaining strength, "back then, my wife was my strength, my guiding light through every storm. Now it's my turn to be her guardian, to shield her from harm, and to be there for her even when she doesn't know I'm watching. I won't let her face anything alone. I won't let her cry if I can help it. I will bring her back into my arms," he promised, his gaze locked with Emberlyn's, willing her to understand.

  Whoever his wife is, she's incredibly lucky, Emberlyn thought with a pang of longing.

  A sudden surge of jealousy toward this unknown woman surprised her. She envied someone who had a love so devoted, someone who had Ethan willing to move mountains just to be reunited.