Roselyn’s eyes moved from Michael to Kathy, then finally to Calvin. The room was heavy with silence, the kind that carried the weight of years of secrets and pain. She saw the truth behind their actions—the conflict, the helplessness, the shame. They had been trapped by duty and command, forced to stand by while the person they all loved suffered.
She understood that now. But understanding didn’t erase the hurt.
Roselyn’s gaze lingered on Calvin. The man who was supposed to be her fated mate. The one whose loyalty had once been commanded away from love itself.
“I understand that you were forced to abandon Elaine, Calvin,” Roselyn said quietly, her tone steady but her voice trembled just slightly at the edges. “I can see that you had no choice back then. But…” she swallowed hard, eyes gl
