Xavier's heart raced as he faced Della's fury, each word like a cold blade slicing through the tension in the air. The primal instinct to protect surged through him, sparking a fire within he didn't know he possessed. But as he stood, adrenaline pooling in his veins, he couldn't shake off the nagging worry about Felix caught in the crossfire of a conflict that had spiraled out of control.

“Micheal, you need to see reason!” Sage's voice pierced through the chaos, firm and unyielding. “Your actions put him at risk. This isn’t just about pride or possession—this is about a child’s safety!”

“What would you know about being safe, Sage?”...