At that moment, I saw a side of her I hadn't seen before. She seemed fragile, yet she never wavered through everything she had endured. I knew she was strong, but beneath it all, I worried that her kindness might be her downfall—a naivety that led her to choose compassion over revenge.
"Ace, are you okay? Just a yes or no will do," Ray teased, a playful smirk dancing across his face.
I returned his smile, a small, weary one. "No, I don't regret bringing her," I replied, the weight of the truth pressing down. "Furthermore, this is our father's command; I am unable to disobey."
Ray's smile faltered. Leaning back against the wall, he fixed his gaze on me. "Ace," he said, his voice firm and laced with concern, "I need to remind you: there's a twenty-three-year age gap between you two. She's old enough to understand intimacy, but she's still so young and naive. Don't take advantage of that, even if she is your mate."
"I know," I said, my voice low and serious.
