Reba’s POV

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40

The next morning, I was up early, standing by the window with Jarcas in my arms. The early light painted the gardens in soft gold, and Lucas seemed fascinated by the changing shadows. I heard Dominic stir behind me and turned to see him watching us, his hair tousled from sleep, his eyes warm.

“Good morning.” I said softly. “We were just watching the sunrise, weren’t we, little wolf?”

Dominic crossed the room to join us, kissing Lucas’s head and then my lips. “How long have you been up?

“Not long,” I assured him. “I just wanted some quiet time with our son before the day begins.”

There was a soft knock at the door, and Diana entered carrying a breakfast tray. Her face wasposed, but I immediately sensed something was wrong. Her shoulders were tense, and her face seemed paler than usual.

“Good morning, sir, madam,” she greeted us, her eyes lingering on Lucas before meeting Dominic’s gaze. “I’ve brought breakfast, and there’s something you should know.”

I took Lucas from Dominic and moved to ept the breakfast tray, setting it on the small table by the window. “What is it, Diana?” I asked gently.

Diana’s shoulders tensed even more. “The Collins family has decided to remove Elizabeth’s life support this afternoon,‘ she said quietly. “Luna… Marianne is quite distressed.”

I felt Dominic go still beside me, his emotions aplex tangle through our bond–grief, guilt, resignation, and a myriad of other feelings too intertwined to name.

I lightly touched his arm. “I’ll go speak with Marianne,” I offered. “You need a little time to process this.”

He looked at me, surprise flickering across his features before understanding settled in. He nodded slightly, gratitude in his eyes.

After Diana left, I handed Lucas back to Dominic and moved to get dressed, choosing a simple blue dress that I knew Marianne would approve of. As I pulled my hair into a neat ponytail, I caught Dominic watching me in the mirror.

“You continue to surprise me,” he said quietly. “Most people in your position would be celebrating Elizabeth’s fate, notforting those who mourn her.”

I turned to face him, my expression serious. “Death is never something to celebrate,” I said. “And your mother needs support right now, not judgment.”

I made my way to Marianne’s private sitting room, my heart beating a little faster with each step. Despite our truce, Dominic’s mother and I had maintained a respectful distanceb, /bour interactions civil but rarely warm. Now, I was voluntarily entering her domain at a vulnerable

moment. fn368b Fresh chapters posted on FιndＮovel/fn368b

I knocked softly on the ornate door, hearing a quiet “Enter” from within. The sitting room was elegant and tasteful, withrge windows overlooking the gardens. Marianne stood by one of these windows, her back straight, her silver–streaked dark hair perfectly styled despite the early hour.

15:17 bMon/bb, /bbSep /bb29 /b

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She didn’t turn as I entered, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains. “I suppose Dominic sent you,” she said, her voice carefully

controlled.

“No,” I replied honestly. “I offered toe. I thought you might want to talk.”

Now she did turn, surprise briefly crossing her elegant features before herposed mask returned. “About Elizabeth? The woman who tried to kill my son and nned to harm you? Why would you care about my feelings regarding her?b” /b

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I moved further into the room, taking a seat on one of thefortable armchairs. “Because I know you once thought she would be your daughter–inw. Because I understand that rtionships aren’t simple, and neither is griefb./b”

Marianne studied me for a long moment, then sighed and moved to sit in the chair opposite mine. “I was there the day Elizabeth was born,” she said quietly, her gaze distant. “Ronald and I were… close, in those days. Our families had been allies for generations. I always thought destiny would connect my son to her.”

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