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Emilia’s POV
Alonso sat across from me in the small study, a room filled with old, leather-bound books and the lingering scent of cigars. The air was tense, but there was something different about his demeanor tonight—less authoritative, more… human. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, hands clasped as if searching for the right words.
“I owe you an explanation,” he began, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
I crossed my arms, not ready to let my guard down. “You owe me more than that.”
His lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded. “You’re right. I’ve kept too much from you, and I see now that it was a mistake. But I need you to understand… everything I’ve done has been to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. “From A
