Dahlia’s lips pressed into a thin line, the faintest crease of concern etching her brow. “This… this is a war, isn’t it?” Her voice was quiet, but every word carried steel beneath the softness. “And you… are you sure it’s worth it? Risking yourself, everything, for her?”
Damien’s gaze didn’t waver. The room seemed to shrink around the tension between them. “Yes,” he said, each word deliberate. “She’s worth it. Every risk, every move… she’s worth it.”
Dahlia studied him for a long moment, the storm in her eyes softening just enough to betray the rare flicker of pride—and a cautious worry for the son she knew so well.
He held her gaze, unflinching, the steel in his posture tempered by an uncharacteristic vulnerability. “I love her, Mother,” he said, his voice low but unwavering. “She’s th
