As Ronald spoke, Ella could sense the pain he carried. She wanted to get closer but was afraid. Stephen was shocked by the revelation, the sacrifices Ronald had made for love, the choices that had shaped the course of his life. The room was filled with the echoes of the past, revealing a side of Ronald that had long been kept hidden.
"Now tell me, do I still have to put this damn family first before my own happiness? Before Ella and I fell in love, marrying was to me another obligation to fulfil my promise to protect her and Stephen."
The room fell into a heavy silence as Ronald's words lingered in the air. The weight of his revelations hung over the three of them: Ronald, Stephen, and Ella in different ways.
Ronald's father, Richard, appeared momentarily stunned, his stern expression f
