Caspian Hughes’s eyes widened, the air suddenly leaving his lungs.

"So... Rose, you're actually married?" The question hung in the air, heavy and jagged. It left his lips before he could stop it.

"I am," Rose whispered, a bitter, hollow smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She dropped her head, her chin nearly touching her chest as silence reclaimed the room.

The reality of it hit Caspian like a physical blow. His childhood sweetheart—the girl he’d dreamed of for years—had belonged to another man for nearly a year now. The realization tore through his mind, leaving a trail of sharp, electric pain in its wake.

He looked at her, really looked at her—the way her shoulders slumped, the way her gaze was fixed on the floor. Memories of the two strange men who had arrived earlier flooded his mind, and his jaw tightened. Logic returned, cold and biting. This wasn't a marriage; it was a cage. It had brought her nothing but misery, confinement, and heartbreak.

If she was drowning, he would be her anchor. He wouldn't back down. He would protect his princess, even if it meant fighting a war he wasn't sure he could win.

"Even so, I love you, Rose," he said, his voice dropping into a low, steady vow. "You’re married, yes, but that doesn't change a thing. I will stay by your side. I’ll be the one to protect you until you find your way back to happiness."

Rose jerked her head up. She stared at him, stunned. He was the same Caspian she had known since they were children, the boy who had always looked at her with unconditional warmth. His eyes were steady, his gaze unwavering, and for a fleeting second, it felt like the frost surrounding her heart began to thaw.

No. She couldn't do this to him. She couldn't let him walk into this burning house just to be consumed by her own tragedy.

"Caspian, please, don't," she managed, her voice trembling. "Thank you for everything. Thank you for the way you’ve always cared for me. But I’m already in love with Maximus Anderson. Even though he’s shattered me into a thousand pieces, I still find myself craving the ghost of the warmth he once gave me. I would only break your heart."

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force herself to look away from the kindness in his expression.

"No, Rose, listen to me," Caspian said, reaching out to firmly clasp her hands in his. "I love you because of who you are, not because of what’s happened to you. From this moment on, you are the princess I’ve sworn to protect. You don't have to love me back. I’ll just be your knight. I’ll be here when you need me, forever."

Rose’s vision blurred. The tears came, hot and relentless. Was it really possible? Could she ever truly find happiness again? Did she even deserve it?

She wept silently, her heart aching with the ghost of a child she had lost, a grief so sharp it felt like a serrated blade in her chest. She closed her eyes, shutting out the world, refusing to let herself believe in the light.

In her mind, she was back at that gala—the night she met Maximus. She remembered the way he had smiled at her, a look so tender it had stolen her breath and her soul. She had been drunk on that feeling, unable to pull herself away. But then the memory shifted. She thought of their shattered life, the hollow silence of her hospital room, and the agony of her loss.

Caspian watched her face as her inner light flickered and died, leaving only the shadow of profound despair. His heart felt like it was being torn in two. He stepped forward and pulled her into a fierce, protective embrace.

"Don't be afraid, Rose," he murmured, his voice a soft anchor in the storm. "I’m back now. I’ll be your wall, your shield, your everything. Just trust me. Will you do that?"