Chapter 78

**Emma’s POV**

I awoke slowly, my eyes adjusting to the dim light in my room. The first thing I saw was Amory, sitting beside my bed on a small stool, his gaze soft but unwavering.

“Amory…?” I groaned, my voice hoarse as I attempted to sit up. “What… what are you doing here?”

A small smile appeared on his face. “I’ve been thinking about what you asked me. About why you went through all that. But even after a whole night of trying, I still can’t come up with anything. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

He looked down at my hand resting on the bed, and he gently placed his hand over mine, his touch grounding me. “Emma, you were just a child. You didn’t do anything wrong, not one thing.” His voice was soft yet sincere, and I felt a swell of strength returning.

I squeezed his hand in gratitude. “Thank you, Amory.”

He looked into my eyes, encouragingly. “Go to Chairman Henry. Ask him why he did this. Demand answers, Emma. You have the right.”

As the day turned to afternoon, I dressed and made