THIRD POV
Helen went quiet.
Not long—just a brief moment.
Her eyes stayed on Roman, sharp and calculating, like she was weighing every word he had just said and trying to decide what to do with it.
Then she spoke.
“Leave.”
The word was calm. But Roman knew she meant it.
Roman blinked, clearly thrown off.
“…What?”
“I said leave,” Helen repeated, her tone becoming harsher.
Roman didn’t move.
If anything, he stood straighter.
There was confusion written all over his face now, but underneath it—something else.
Certainty.
“No,” he said.
Helen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’m not leaving.”
A beat passed.
Roman took a small step forward, his voice more grounded now. If there was ever a time he was sure of himself, it was now.
“I can see it,” he added. “You know I’m right.”
That
