Eloise had quieted, though her body still trembled in his arms. Her sobs had thinned into ragged breaths, her face buried against his chest until she forced herself to pull away.

Her eyes were red, swollen, yet burning with storm words could barely contained. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, as if trying to erase her own weakness.

“ I'm such a fool.” She whispered, her voice hoarse.

Antonio’s gaze sharpened. “ Don't.”

She felt her stomach turn. Shame crawling up her skin, hot and suffocating. “I called her Mum,” she whispered, choking on the word. “I trusted her… I- I loved her. And all this...