For a moment, the three of them just stared at each other.
James. Alan. Emily.
The ballroom hummed around them, but the sound felt far away.
Alan was the first to speak. “She said no," he told James quietly. “Respect that."
James's eyes were sharp. “You have no idea what this is," he said. “She's not some stranger you're rescuing."
“No," Alan said. “She isn't."
James looked past him at Emily. “Tell him," he said. “Tell him who I am to you."
Emily met his gaze. “You're the man who signed to have me committed," she said. “And called it love."
The calm in her tone hit harder than shouting.
James flinched. “You stabbed my mother," he said. “You threatened me. I was trying to keep everyone safe."
“You were trying to make yourself feel better," she replied. “You and Victoria went to my
