We don''t even have a chance to stop at home first. After getting all the details from Ezra about the Selina situation, Arthur tells


    him to take us directly to my parents'' estate. Miles stays asleep throughout most of the ride,pletely unaware. I envy his


    blissful ignorance.


    The Willford estate looks just as lovely as ever as we pull up the long circr driveway. Despite having been here multiple times


    now, I still haven''t fully adjusted to the fact that these people are my biological parents, and this massive house-more like a


    small pce, really-is where I should have grown up.


    The butler greets us at the door and immediately leads us to my father''s study. My mother, father, and Caleb are already waiting inside. A quick nce confirms that Selina isn''t here, which is a relief. I''m not ready to face her again just yet.


    "Iris, Arthur," my father says, standing to greet us. "Thank you foring so quickly. I hope we didn''t put a damper on your


    vacation."


    "Where''s Selina?" Arthur asks, not bothering with pleasantries.


    "At her apartment," my mother replies. "With security, of course. We thought it best to discuss the situation without her present


    first."


    Arthur nods curtly, maintaining hisposure, but I can feel the anger radiating off of him. After handing the still-sleeping


    Miles off to Ezra, who takes him to the room my parents have prepared, we take our seats in the plush leather chairs arranged in


    front of my father''s massive desk.


    "So," my father begins, folding his hands on the desk. "I assume your Beta has filled you in on the public reaction to


    everything?"


    Arthur and I both nod.


    My parents exchange a nce, and it''s my father who finally speaks. "We need to consider all sides of this situation. Yes, Selina''s


    actions were reprehensible. But let''s not forget that you, Arthur, put her in aa."


    "It was an ident," Arthur growls. "And she tried to kill my mate."


    "We know," my mother says soothingly. "But the situation isn''t ck and white. Selina is still our daughter, just as much as Iris


    1. is. We raised her for twenty-six years. We can''t simply throw her to the wolves now."


    "What exactly are you proposing?" I ask.


    Caleb clears his throat. "Before we get to that, there''s something you both should know." He hesitates, ncing at our parents, who nod for him to continue. "Selina has struggled with severe mental health issues since she was a teenager. Bipr disorder, primarily, although there have been several other diagnoses over the years."


    +25 Bonus


    This is news to me. I look at Arthur, whose expression tells me he didn''t know either.


    "The family kept it quiet," Caleb continues. "You know how it is in these circles- mental illness is seen as a weakness,


    something to be hidden away. But during hera, I investigated her apartment, trying to understand what led to her actions.


    She''d stopped taking her medication months before the incident."


    "That doesn''t excuse what she did," Arthur says firmly.


    "No," my father agrees. "It doesn''t. But it does give us context. Selina wasn''t


    entirely herself when she made those choices."


    I fidget in my seat, torn between self-righteous anger and a reluctant


    understanding. I know very well how mental health issues


    can affect someone''s behavior. Selina was always a cold person, but maybe going to the length of trying to kill someone wasn''t


    really her.


    "What are you suggesting, then?" Arthur asks. "That we just... forgive and forget?"


    "Of course not," my father says. "There must be consequences. But we''re asking you both to consider an alternative to


    imprisonment."


    "Such as?" I prompt.


    "House arrest," my mother says. "With strict monitoring, of course."


    Arthur looks like he''s about to explode, so I ce a hand on his arm. "Can Arthur


    and I have a moment to discuss this privately?"


    My father nods, and we excuse ourselves to the hallway outside the study.


    As soon as the door closes behind us, Arthur turns to me. "They can''t be serious. After everything she did to you, they want to let


    her off with a p on the wrist?"


    "I know," I sigh. "But I can see their point, too. They raised her, Arthur. They love her."


    "She tried to kill you," he reminds me, as if I could possibly forget. "Then, to make matters worse, she called CPS on you while


    you were injured. She could have cost us Miles."


    "I know that too," I say quietly. "Better than anyone."


    "She deserves life in prison. I can''t even believe we''re even discussing


    alternatives."


    I hesitate, biting my lip before I say softly, "I don''t know, Arthur. Maybe my parents have a point."


    He looks like I just told him the earth is t. "What?"


    "Our approval ratings skyrocketed after I was gracious to her at the party," I say. "People loved that I didn''t stoop to her level, that I extended an olive branch despite everything. Maybe we should do the same now."