607 James took a cautious step forward, his voice soft but earnest. “Sir, Lady Margaret asked for your trust because she cares about you. She wouldn’t do this if it weren’t important.” Darwin shot him a look. “Is that what she told you? That she cares about me?” James hesitated. “Yes.” Darwin la
608 James stood frozen in the middle of the grand hall, the silence pressing in on him like an unbearable weight. His mind raced, torn between his duty to Lady Margaret and his worry over Darwin’s spiraling frustration. The heavy slam of the estate’s front door echoed faintly through the corridors
609 “The first time Darwin asked about his father,” she began slowly, “it nearly broke me.” She paused, her voice softening further. “Back then, he still had his memories. He knew enough to ask the right questions… and I didn’t know how to answer.” James frowned, concern knitting his brows. He too
610 Margaret let out a bitter, humorless laugh, her voice carrying the weight of years she dared not speak of. “You’re so sure, aren’t you? That honesty is the answer to everything. Life isn’t that simple, James.” James, ever the calm presence, folded his hands behind his back as he regarded her.
611 Margaret shook her head violently. “You don’t understand,” she said, her voice trembling. “If Darwin knew what really happened—if he knew the truth—it could destroy him.” James’s expression softened, his voice quieter now. “But what if it doesn’t?” Margaret froze, staring at him as though the
612 James’s gaze softened further, his voice laced with quiet compassion. “Then tell him that, too. Tell him what it cost you. The truth isn’t just for him, Margaret—it’s for you, too.” She turned toward him sharply, her eyes wide and glassy with unshed tears. “And what if he doesn’t forgive me?”
613 James knocked softly on Lady Margaret's door, the urgency in his steps evident even before he spoke. “My lady,” he called quietly but firmly, his voice cutting through the stillness of the night. Margaret, half-asleep, stirred at the sound. “James?” she called groggily, pushing herself up onto
614 Margaret glanced briefly at James, who lingered near the door before turning her attention back to Maelstrom. “The last time we spoke, you said you had a lead on the Oakbar brothers. I assumed you would call me when you had more information.” “I did say that,” Maelstrom agreed, his voice silky
Zoe nodded quickly, desperation flashing in her tear-streaked eyes. “I’ll help you,” she said, her words tumbling over each other in a rush. “I’ll give you everything I know about them. Their plans, their hideouts, their weaknesses—everything. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring them down.” Darwin’s
645 “Then why?” Darwin demanded, his voice like ice, slicing through the tension in the room. His arms were rigid at his sides, his fingers curled into fists. “Why do it? Why not come to me, tell me what was happening? You think I wouldn’t have protected your family? That I wouldn’t have done every
Darwin let out a sharp, bitter laugh that echoed through the room. It was a sound devoid of humor, filled instead with anger and disbelief. “And that makes it okay?” he asked, his voice laced with venom. “That justifies handing me over to my enemies?” “I didn’t have a choice!” Zoe’s voice cracked u
644 Darwin’s sharp gaze bore into Zoe, who stood shackled between two guards. Her weak smile faltered as his eyes, like molten steel, pinned her in place. She shifted uneasily, her trembling hands barely hidden behind her back. When his lips curled in disdain, she glanced away, unable to bear the i
643 Darwin leaned back on the couch, his arms crossed and his sharp gaze fixed on Margaret. His mind raced, the weight of her words pressing on him, but he needed clarity. His frustration boiled beneath his calm exterior. “Let’s try this again,” he began, his voice cutting through the tense silen
642 Margaret blinked, caught off guard by the question. She and James had been so focused on the reunion that they hadn’t even thought about the state they were in. Their clothes were smeared with dirt and mud, and their faces were streaked with grime. James shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of
641 As Margaret and James stepped into the dimly lit mansion, the weight of the day still hung heavily over them. The air inside was cool, but there was a palpable sense of tension between them. Margaret walked ahead, her steps sure, but her thoughts clearly elsewhere. James followed, keeping his e
640 Margaret’s gaze softened. She knew James better than anyone, but sometimes even she couldn’t tell if he was hiding something or just being cryptic. “You know, you can always talk to me.” “I know,” James muttered, a touch of irritation in his voice. “But I’m not the one with a thousand secrets,
639 Margaret’s piercing eyes lingered on the battered Oakbar brothers one last time before turning to Maelstrom. His expression was unreadable, cold, and calculating. His voice, however, was clear and final. “Leave them to me,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. “I’ll ensure justice is s