บท 163: The Tension Between What Was and What Could Be

With a deep breath, Vanessa dress for work, pulling on a smart blouse and a pair of trousers, trying to ignore the knot in her stomach. Today, like every other Saturday, she'll be heading to the marketing firm she works for, putting her personal thoughts aside to focus on her job.

As she grabs her bag and heads toward the door, she notices her father walking into the living room. He smiles warmly at her, always a source of comfort. "Good morning, Vanessa," he says, his voice groggy from just waking up.

"Good morning, Dad," she replies with a smile, her eyes betraying a flicker of the inner conflict she feels.

"Are you off to work?" He asks, his expression full of concern as he notices the slight tension in her demeanor.

Vanessa nods. "Yeah, it's another busy day. I'll be fine, though."

Her father doesn't press further, but the concern is evident in his eyes. "Alright, take care. We'll be here when you get back."