Elias was torn.
He stood there, struggling between acting with impartiality or following the stirrings of his heart.
If this matter had truly touched upon the ideals of justice he held dear, he would have acted without hesitation.
But no matter the outcome, it would not affect the core of his righteousness in any meaningful way.
After a brief inner conflict, he closed his eyes tightly—then opened them again.
His gaze sharpened, as if he had finally realized what it was he truly wanted.
Without another word, he wrapped his arm around Seraphine's waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace. With domineering certainty, he declared,
"She is mine. Our love will not be torn apart by some outdated ancestral arrangement. Whether the engagement is real or not, she belongs to me—and me alone."
Seraphine, moved to her core, threw her arms around him.
A man with a promising career, a powerful family, and a love so devoted—he was someone she would treasure for a lifetime.
