Rosalyn stared at Theron as though she could not quite believe what she was seeing. He had protected the woman who had humiliated her, the woman who had trampled on her pride in front of everyone, the woman who had made her feel small in a room where she was supposed to be the one in control.
That realization burned hotter than the fire that had shot into the ceiling. It was not just betrayal. It felt like a public wound.
Aveline, however, did not seem troubled in the least.
To her, it was simply Theron being Theron.
He had always been like this, had he not? Always appearing at the right time, always stepping in before danger could touch her too deeply, always standing between her and whatever threatened her life.
This was not the first time he had protected her, and it probably would not be the last. And if one day she became stronger, then perhaps she would be the one to stand in front of him instead.
She looked at Rosalyn, still trembling with fury, and felt nothing.
