CHAPTER 51

Charles POV:

The warmth of Agatha’s body pressed against mine, her trembling a tangible expression of her grief, ignited a confusing mix of emotions within me.

Protective instincts surged, a fierce desire to shield her from pain, to offer solace and strength. But alongside that empathy, a darker current pulsed - a thrill of possessiveness, a sense of opportunity.

She’s vulnerable. She needs me. And this time, I won’t let her push me away.

I held her close, my hand stroking her hair, her scent – a delicate blend of lilies and jasmine – filling my senses.

“It’s alright, Agatha,” I murmured, my voice a low rumble against her ear, the words both a comfort and a calculated reassurance. “I’m here now. I won’t let anything else happen to you.”

She clung to me, her sobs muffled against my chest, her vulnerability a potent elixir, intoxicating and dangerous.

I felt a surge of power, a heady sense of control.

This was what I craved, what I’d been working towards – Agatha, broken and reliant,