_Lisa's POV_
The sound of footsteps made me look up. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Rylan stepping out from behind the tall hedges. His eyes locked on mine, and he paused for a second when he saw the tears on my face.
“Oh, Lisa,” he said softly. “Please don’t cry.”
Before I could stop him, he walked over and wrapped his arms around me. I didn’t resist. I buried my face in his chest. I could feel his warmth surrounding me, and the sobs I had been holding back burst free.
“I—I think the seer might be right,” I said between my muffled breaths. “Maybe… maybe that’s why my parents never treated me the same. Maybe I am not their biological daughter. Maybe I’ve always been an outsider to them.”
His arms tightened around me.
“Lisa,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my h
