The air in the room was thick with a seriousness that immediately registered with Isolde. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, her body angling toward Selene, a silent invitation for her to speak.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur.
Selene kept her eyes closed, fighting the impulse to keep them shut and avoid the difficult truth. She took a deep breath, her hands pressed together in a gesture of sincere apology. "There's something I need to tell you," she repeated, her voice steady but laced with a profound gravity. "Before I do, I want to apologize. And I want to plead with you, please try your best to forgive me. If you can't, I will completely understand."
A nervous laugh escaped Isolde. "You're making me worried," she said, her voice betraying a hint of unease as the weight of the moment sank in. She waited, her gaze fixed on Selene, who finally took a breath and opened her eyes.
