The room remained frozen in silence.
Rain crashed violently against the windows while thunder shook the Knight estate, but Emily barely heard any of it anymore.
Her entire world had narrowed down to the two photographs lying in Alexander's hands.
One picture showed her mother beside Alexander's mother.
Smiling.
Standing together like trusted friends.
Like family.
The second truth was far worse.
You weren't meant to survive childhood.
Lucien's words echoed endlessly inside her head.
Emily felt cold all over.
Beside her, Alexander's expression had become dangerously unreadable. His jaw was tight, his grip on the photographs almost crushing them.
For the first time since she met him—
He looked shaken.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
And somehow, seeing that terrified her more than Lucien himself.
"What exactly are you saying?" Alexander asked quietly.
Too quietly.
Lucien slipped both hands into his coat pockets calmly.
