章 70: Pursuing Don Gardner

James observed the intense look of fear etched across her face, her eyes wide with panic and beads of sweat on her forehead, evidence of the overwhelming anxiety that gripped her. He felt a surge of empathy, understanding that every fear she was experiencing was in her mind. 'She must have had a nightmare.'

"What happened?" he asked, looking at her eyes that were full of fear. Seeing James in front of her, safe and sound, made Odeta recover quite a bit. But she kept quiet, not answering his question; she only tightened her grip on him and refused to let go.

"Are you okay?" Don Gardner asked her again when she refused to speak. He had never seen her look so scared and vulnerable; he knew she was genuinely scared a moment ago.

Odelia stared at his face. 'Was he sincerely worried about her, or was he just trying to be accommodating?'

"Did you have a nightmare?" He pressed on.