Night fell over the mansion, and Richard found Jenna in the study, polishing a new necklace. He leaned against the doorway, silent, observing her concentration. "I shouldn't have snapped at you," he admitted quietly, breaking the tension. "But you have to understand — everything here matters. Mistakes aren't easily forgiven."
Jenna looked up, a soft vulnerability in her eyes. "I understand," she said.
A moment passed, filled only by the hum of the city outside. Richard finally stepped closer. "You're… different from anyone I've known," he said, low and measured. "Don't let Diana or anyone else make you forget that."
The words lingered in the air. Jenna's heart fluttered, but she remained composed. There was no declaration, no overt romance — only the acknowledgment of her importance, a subtle shift in Richard's attitude that both exhilarated and terrified her. The night ended in silence, but the unspoken truth had been set: Richard McDonald's walls were beginning to crack.