I gripped the cold stone ledge, my knuckles white as I watched the somber procession below. Darren, Lyle, and Milo escorted Winifred down the winding path, their faces grim masks in the fading light. My heart twisted painfully in my chest.


    Anger and pity warred within me as I watched Winifred''s hunched form. I think she had been raised in such a way that she couldn''t escape herself. She was so caught up in thinking she was doing her duty that she forgot what it meant to be a mother to her children. But the idea that she would still try to kill me ... what the hell was wrong with her? I thought we were making


    progress.


    I didn''t think she was an evil person, but she needed help. She needed to understand that being a mother should havee before her duty. And I was still trying toe to terms with what she did to my own mother. Had she not scared my mother away, the curse would have ended a long time ago. However, then I wouldn''t have been born and I never would have met Darren. I couldn''tpletely hate what she did because of that. And my parents were very happy together, up until my father disappeared.


    I closed my eyes, inhaling the crisp scent of pine that mingled with the earthy musk of the castle. When I opened them again, my gaze was drawn inexorably to Darren. Even from this distance, the tension in his broad shoulders was evident.


    The stone path leading to the istion keep winded like a serpent through the castle grounds, each step of the somber


    Lyle walked behind them, uncharacteristically silent, and Milo''s gait seemed filled with hesitance. As if he didn''t know what he should do. He looked ahead, not daring to look at Winifred. He was probably afraid that his resolve would crumble if he looked


    at her.


    Someone stepped next to me, and I nced over to see Finn''s eyes resting on


    me.


    "You''re not to me for this, you know," he said softly. Was he still reading my mind? Or was I being that transparent?


    I force a brittleugh. "Aren''t I? If I hadn''te here—"


    "If you hadn''te here, who knows what other chaos Winifred might have caused?” Finn interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "You didn''t create this situation, Allissa. You merely brought it to light."


    "Gods, look at him," I whispered, my heart aching as I watched Darren''s face. Even from this distance, I could see the storm raging in his emerald eyes. His jaw clenching and unclenching, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "What if he ends up resenting me for this? What if Milo and Lyle end up hating me as well?" After all, Winifred was their family. If I had never showed up, they would have remained in ignorant bliss.


    Finn''s hand on my shoulder is warm and reassuring. "Darren adores you. Anyone with eyes can see that. As for his family ... well, they''re made of sterner stuff than you give them credit for."


    I nodded, trying to draw strength from his words, but as I looked back down at the procession, now nearing the istion keep, my heart clenched.


    whispered, hating how vulnerable I sounded. “I know it isn''t my doing, but indirectly, because I am by his side, it hase to


    this."


    My eyes were locked on Darren. His protective instincts were warring with his duty


    as king, and the conflict was etched in every line of his body. His fingers twitched


    at his sides, as if he was also conflicted with what he was doing.


    "He looks like he''s being torn apart," I murmured, my own voice thick with emotion.


    Ivan moved beside me, his broad shoulder brushing against my own. "It''s not an easy thing, to bnce love and duty. Especially for someone like Darren."


    I nodded, as Darren paused at the keep''s entrance. He turns to face Winifred, and


    for a moment, I saw a sh of the little boy he must have been-vulnerable, desperate for his mother''s love. Then his expression hardened, the king reasserting control.


    "I''m sorry it''se to this," Darren said, his voice carrying clearly now. "But you''ve left us no choice."


    Winifred lifted her head, and even from here, I could see the tears glittering in her eyes. "I understand, my son. I only hope ... one day ... you can forgive me."


    Darren''s shoulders stiffened, and I longed to run to him, to wrap my arms around him and shield him from this pain. Lyle turned his face to the ground and I could see his tears fall.


    "Maybe there is another way. I can''t—” I could make out Milo''s choked words and I felt as if someone had punched me in the


    Darren cut him off with a sharp shake of his head. "Dad, maybe you shouldn''t be here."


    "No, son. I have to be here." Milo lifted his chin up and I suddenly felt like we were invading their privacy, but I also couldn''t tear myself away.


    "Fuck," Lyle muttered, running a hand through his ck hair. “This is so messed up."


    "Winnie," Milo says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I" He finally turned to look at her. And for a brief moment, I could see the connection between them. It was there. Even if things were manufactured in the beginning, there was love


    now.


    The stone beneath my fingers was cold, unyielding, much like the fate that had befallen this family, Darren''s rigid posture and the set of his jaw speaking volumes about the pain he was desperately trying to contain.


    "Goddess," I whispered, my voice catching. I remembered the pain of losing my own parents. My father''s disappearance and my mother''s death.


    "This is my fault, I only have myself to me. It''s okay. Take care of our boys." Her voice was a wounded whisper, and I''d be damned if I didn''t feel bad for her.


    The heavy door creaked open, and I heard Darren take a deep breath. Milo threw himself at Winifred and wrapped his arms around her.


    "Damnit, Winnie! It wasn''t supposed to be like this." He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair while she clung to him. Chapter 60


    looked away with clenched fists as Darren stared at the wooden door quietly.


    My chest tightened as I watched the scene unfold below. Ivan ced his hand around my shoulders, trying to offer me support.


    The weight of guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave. If I hadn''te here, if I hadn''t fallen in love with Darren, would this family still be whole? My fingers dig into the rough stone of the ledge, searching for an anchor as my mind spiraled.


    "You know, I once heard a wise man say that guilt is like a rocking chair." A smooth voice cut through my tumultuous thoughts. "It gives you something to do, but it doesn''t get you anywhere."


    I scoffed at Finn''s words. "Grief is real and raw, and that wise man is full of shit." I shook my head. "I feel so—"


    "Responsible?" he finished, and I nced at him as he raised an eyebrow. "My dear Allissa, while your ability to shoulder the weight of the world is admirable, I''m afraid you''re giving yourself far too much credit in this particr drama. It was set to unfold one way or another."


    I frowned, ready to argue, but Finn continued, his voice taking on a theatrical lilt. "You see, families have been falling apart long before you graced us with your presence. It''s practically a tradition at this point. Why, I remember when my own brother -"he paused, a shadow crossing his face before he shook it off with a wry smile. "Well, let''s just say that betrayal is an old song, and you''re certainly not conducting this particr orchestra."


    strange way offorting people, you know that?"


    Finn''s eyes twinkled. "Ah, but it''s working, isn''t it? You''re no longer staring down


    at that depressing scene like you''re contemting jumping."


    I rolled my eyes, but I couldn''t deny the truth in his words. "I just... I want to fix this. To make it right somehow."


    "And that," Ivan squeezed my shoulder, "is precisely why you''re not to me. Your heart is in the right ce, even if your head is momentarily lost in the clouds of self-doubt."


    I took a deep breath, letting their words sink in. I watched as Milo escorted Winifred into the keep below. He turned and looked at Darren. “I''m going to stay with her tonight. It''s okay if I continue to visit her here, right?" He was pleading with his son for an exception on his behalf.


    "If that is your wish, then I will allow it." Darren then looked at his mother. "I don''t know what will happen in the future. Take this time to reflect and make your peace." That was his way of saying that she still hadn''t escaped a death sentence. She nodded her head and then Milo escorted her inside. The loud creak of the door echoed as Darren shut it, locking it and handing the key to one of the guards. "Let my father out when he asks." His voice was icy but full of pain. Lyle walked away and Darren followed him.


    His eyes scanned over the castle wall, showing that he sensed my presence. A momentter, his eyes found mine. Even from this distance, I could feel the intensity of his gaze. I couldn''t read his eyes, but I could feel the weight of his emotions. I needed to go to him. I needed to hold him in my arms. If he needed


    someone


    I could see the turmoil in his eyes. He didn''t need me to question or doubt him. What he needed was my unwavering support. I knew this was an incredibly tough moment for him, and I vowed to be his strength. I would stand by his side and be the person he could lean on. I wanted to be his source offort. I just hoped


    that he still wanted it from me.


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