"Blackmail?" Alice was taken aback. "What do they have against you?"

Andrew held Alice's hand between both of his hands gently and spoke with glassy eyes. "Alice, do you trust me?"

Alice nodded her head, looking at Andrew's face intensely.

"I'm holding something of immense weight, and I'm not yet ready to unveil it. Can we leave it unspoken?" Andrew's words were gentle, imbued with deep affection.

Even though Alice maintained a certain stiffness and was unwilling to let it go until she had the full story, she found herself swayed by Andrew's request once more. She was convinced he had a solid reason.

"Very well, I won't inquire further,...