Emilia stood alone in the kitchen, her hands pressed against the counter as she took a deep breath to steady herself. Her mind was a whirl of emotions—guilt, anger, and a sense of responsibility that weighed heavily on her. She replayed the scene she’d just witnessed, Elias’s cruel hand striking Freya, his furious grip as he’d dragged her away like a child who didn’t know better. The memory left a bitter taste in Emilia’s mouth, and a pang of regret twisted in her chest.

She knew Freya had a choice, but still, Emilia couldn’t help feeling that she’d dragged Freya into a struggle that the young woman wasn’t fully prepared...