Melvin was making her way to her bedroom when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Turning around in wonder, she was met with the sight of Brayan hurrying towards her down the corridor.

"Melvin," he called out, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Melvin looked at him with a guilty expression, having consciously avoided him throughout the day. She was unsure of how he felt, fearing the potential for rejection given her family's criminal history. Melvin nodded, feeling deeply uncomfortable. She knew all too well that people often shunned those with criminal pasts, and she was terrified of the prospect of Brayan rejecting her.

Brayan's gaze fixed intently on Melvin, searching her blue eyes for any clues. "I've been looking for you all day," he said, his voice low and serious. Sensing Melvin's discomfort, Brayan reached out and gently took her hand, his other hand coming to rest on her cheek. He gazed into her eyes, his warm breath caressing her face.

"Hey," he said softly, before leaning in and kissing her lips tenderly.

"Nothing matters to me, none of it. What your dad and brother did doesn't matter to me," Brayan said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Melvin's eyes welled up with tears as she realized the profound kindness in his words. She knew he meant every syllable, and the weight of his acceptance and love overwhelmed her.

Without a moment's hesitation, Melvin threw her arms around Brayan, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder and letting her tears flow freely. Brayan responded by enveloping her in a tight embrace, one hand gently cradling the back of her head, like a father comforting his cherished child.

"I understand," he whispered softly, his tone reassuring and understanding.

"I love you," Melvin breathed out through her tears, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I love you too," Brayan whispered back, his own heart swelling with the depth of his affection for this remarkable girl.

Olivia entered the bridge, a package in her hand. As she closed the door, Kalvin turned his head slightly, his expression indicating he was not pleased to see her.

He was standing at the control unit, his focus fixed on his tasks.

"I bought your dinner," Olivia said, turning towards him as she closed the door.

"Leave it on the table," Kalvin responded, his tone indifferent and dismissive.

Olivia placed the package on the table and headed towards the door. But just as she was about to leave, Kalvin's voice stopped her.

"Bell said your mom is in the mission control room tonight. Her meeting ended earlier than expected," he announced, his tone formal and matter-of-fact.

Olivia looked at him and nodded. "Okay," she replied, her voice tinged with gratitude.

Olivia then paused, seeming lost in thought. Her mind was at war with her heart – she desperately wanted to see her mother, but she also knew that their interactions often ended in arguments, which would likely provide Kalvin with some satisfaction. Kalvin watched her quietly, his own emotions difficult to read. Olivia's expression shifted as she dialled the communication system, connecting with Elsa. Soon enough Elsa's face appeared on the screen. As soon as she saw Olivia's face a look of pure joy and relief washed over Elsa's features.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Liv!" she whispered, her eyes glistening with happiness.

"Hey, Mom," Olivia replied, a small smile playing on her lips. But internally, Olivia's emotions were in turmoil - a mixture of guilt, happiness, anger, and regret. She knew she wasn't quite ready for this conversation, but she couldn't bear the thought of dying without reconciling with her mother.

"I miss you so much, kid," Elsa said lovingly, the depth of her emotions evident in her eyes.

"I miss you too," Olivia responded, nodding as she tried to hold back her tears.

"I missed you every day in the past years," Olivia added, her eyes brimming with tears.

Elsa smiled through her own tears. "Olivia, let me explain, please," she said, her voice tinged with emotion.

"No, no, Mom," Olivia suddenly interjected, not wanting to delve into that topic."But we need to talk about it in order to move forward, Olivia. We can't move forward with unfinished business. I want you to know I never wanted to abandon you. I wanted to..." Elsa rushed to explain, but Olivia, her nerves frayed and her emotions raw, suddenly shouted.

"But you eventually did!" Olivia cried, her voice filled with anguish.Kalvin, who had been quietly observing the exchange, turned to face Olivia, his expression one of quiet contemplation as he watched the unfolding drama.Elsa, taken aback by Olivia's outburst, tried to speak, but the words seemed to catch in her throat, and tears began to stream down her face."You always cared more for power, for the council, but Dad was always there for me. You divorced him too, eventually, when he got injured in that accident. You could've saved him, you could've found a way to exceed medical restrictions, but you didn't. You left him to die. After that, you didn't care for me. I was left to struggle alone. I suffered because of your power. Everyone hated me for being your daughter," Olivia screamed, the bitterness she had been harbouring for years finally spilling out.Elsa covered her face, her sobs echoing through the communication channel.Kalvin, witnessing Olivia's emotional and vulnerable state, couldn't help but reflect on his own experiences. He knew first-hand the challenges of being associated with a powerful figure like a Chancellor and the pain that came with being hurt and mistreated. He couldn't help but wonder if he was one of the people who had contributed to Olivia's suffering.

"I'm sorry," Elsa barely whispered through her tears.

Olivia's lips trembled as she spoke. "I told you I don't want to talk about it. As long as you want to talk about it, we can't do this," she said, abruptly cutting off the communication.

The room fell silent as Olivia's sobs subsided. She hid her face in her hands for a moment, then wiped her eyes and stood up to leave.As Olivia turned to the door, she met Kalvin's gaze. He had been watching her intently.

"Sorry for disturbing you," Olivia said, ignoring him as she turned to leave.

"Maybe you should let her talk about it," Kalvin said softly, surprising Olivia.

She looked back at him, his brown eyes holding a sincere expression.

"But I don't want to hear it," Olivia said, her voice filled with wonder.

"Maybe you should," Kalvin replied, his gaze shifting to the large glass window, offering a good view of the sea.

"She can't move forward without explaining to you, whatever it is. Those chancellors' mindsets work a bit weird. Sometimes, after making hard decisions, Bell wants to talk to me or Maxwell in order to free his mind and justify himself," Kalvin explained, his tone calm, though a hint of lingering unacceptance could be detected.

Olivia stood there, lost in thought.

"Maybe I should hear it, then," she said, pausing. "But has Bell ever done something unforgivable to you? Something you can't forget, something that you see on their face every time you see them?"

Kalvin turned to face Olivia, considering her question. Then turned back to the glass continuing his talk.

"He has done a couple of things. Once, he executed a friend of mine who was selling drugs to earn money for his parents' medicines. I never liked it when he executed people himself. He's not just my father, but my teacher. During training, there were times he sentenced me to unbearable punishments. I hated him for those, but I couldn't hate him for a long period because I knew how much he cared and sacrificed for me, how many things he has gone through in his life," Kalvin said, surprised by his own openness.

Olivia let out a heavy sigh. "Forgiving her is not easy," she said, her gaze distant.

"How do you know? Have you tried enough? You're being used to hating her," Kalvin said, and Olivia bit her lip, knowing that he was right.

She let out another heavy breath. "Maybe," she said, turning to the door.

"Good night, Captain," Olivia said as she walked out, closing the door behind her. Kalvin turned around and looked at the door after she left.