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
615 Margaret’s gaze lingered on the heavy doors Maelstrom had vanished through, her thoughts swirling like a tempest. His cryptic warnings were always laced with just enough truth to keep her on edge. The Oakbar brothers. The mere mention of their name sent a shiver down her spine. James, ever th
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
638 Margaret’s piercing gaze locked onto the Oakbar brothers, her usual composure now tinged with visible impatience. She stepped forward, her boots crunching against the forest floor, her tone sharp and commanding. “All right, enough games,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the silence
637 Margaret’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. “You knew?” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “And you didn’t tell me?” James stood firm, though a shadow of guilt flickered in his eyes. “I couldn’t risk it,” he said, his tone measured but heavy. “If the Oakbars had
636 The Oakbar brothers were frozen, their faces pale as they stared at King Maelstrom. The sudden revelation that the man before them was the infamous ruler of the Maelstrom Kingdom seemed almost too unreal to process. Their minds raced, the pieces of their terror-stricken world falling into place
635 The silence in the clearing was suffocating, the tension so thick it felt as if the air itself was holding its breath. Margaret could barely comprehend what had just transpired—she had watched in stunned disbelief as the Oakbar brothers, once towering figures of violence and arrogance, had been
Zayne clenched his jaw, his body taut with tension. "I will never apologize to her," he spat, his words biting, full of venom. "You think just because you’ve beaten me down with your *presence*—that you’ve won? It’s all a game to you, isn’t it? You—” The stranger interrupted him before he could fin