Valerie's gaze felt like a sharp blade, cutting through me as her eyes narrowed, seemingly peering deep into my very essence. Her face displayed a blend of defiance and uncertainty, and I could feel the tension in her stance. She was probing me, daring me to show her that I wasn’t like those who had caused her pain.
“Valerie,” I started, my voice unwavering despite the heaviness of her skepticism. “What made you think I wouldn’t act like Edison?” Her eyes dropped to my chest, her thoughts clearly racing, but I understood she wasn’t referring to physical harm. “I’m not talking about violence, but about betrayal, Lucas,” she replied, her tone charged with a quiet intensity that made me instinctively shake my head.
“If I never turned my back on the woman who risked my son’s safety and ultim
