María Josè opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The weight of the truth was too much. She looked like she might collapse any second. Her whole body trembled as her mind tried to make sense of the information I had just shattered her with.
It was my cue to move closer, and I did. My voice was softened for a moment, just enough to offer a thread of comfort. "I'm sorry, María José. But it's the truth. And if you want to stop this—if you want Axel to be yours, you have to know what's really going on."
She shook her head. "How… how could she do this? I…" Her breath hitched, and a sob broke free from her chest. "How could she…"
I let my hand brush lightly over her trembling shoulder in a contact that was both comforting and possessive. She didn't flinch this time, though her eyes still burned with confusion and grief.
