Catherine didn't want this to be how the world remembered her.
She was still proud. Still a queen at heart. A queen did not break down in front of strangers, least of all in front of cameras that would carry her tears to millions of people.
But then she looked at Maximilian.
She remembered all the strength he had given her, the quiet encouragements and the not-so-quiet ones. He was one of the reasons she was standing here now, successful and fighting on her own terms.
And he didn't even remember any of it.
The thought hurt more than she expected.
She drew a slow breath and steadied herself.
No. She wasn't going to stand here and let the world turn her into a victim.
Maximilian had told her he would trust her. Then she needed to trust herself, too.
She had chosen to come here. She had known what she was risking. She had expected the questions, the cameras, the scrutiny. She had made her choice with her eyes open.
She was not a victim.
