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Linda bent down, her hands dipping into the water as she chuckled. Seeing how much interested she has with the water, Vladimir settled beside her. "My mother used to love dipping her feet in the water when we go for picnic near the lake," she reminisced, smiling. "My father would drive us deep into the forest and force us to play hunting games with him. One day, when I refused to join him, he killed my pet animal," Vladimir confided. "That must have been really difficult for you," she empathized, turning to meet his gaze. She noticed the pained expression on his face, his distant look suggesting his mind was elsewhere. "He taught me how to wield a gun and would force me to shoot innocent animals," he revealed. "My mother suffered the most because of me," he continued. "She was a quiet woman," Linda remarked. Vladimir smiled warmly, reaching forward to brush aside strands of hair covering her face. As Linda slipped her shoes back onto her feet, she rose, si