Ravenna's POV
The room went still. Ronald froze mid-step, Sebastian winced as Marissa tugged harder, and even Vincent stiffened.
Lucien's dark gaze swept the room and landed on me before returning to his brothers. "She doesn't need your noise. She needs quiet and adequate rest. If she needs assistance, I will be there." His tone didn't rise, but the weight of it pressed down on all of us.
"But dear, how will you take care of her?" Marissa said.
Then, with a certainty that stole the breath from my lungs, he answered, "No worries. I will take care of my wife."
For a heartbeat, no one moved. The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. My wife. Not obligation, not arrangement. He said it like he meant it. Did he actually mean it? And why? Why now?
Ronald's jaw dropped fir
