The silence that followed Peter's words felt heavier than anything Caro had ever carried. She stood in front of him, her breath uneven, her thoughts colliding, and still she could not force out a clear answer. "You are asking me something that is not simple," she said finally, her voice low but strained. "Trust is not just a word you say and move on from. It is something you build, something you protect, and sometimes… something you are afraid of losing."
Peter did not move away from her. If anything, he leaned closer, his gaze sharpening as though her hesitation only confirmed what he already suspected. "Then stop circling around it," he replied quietly, his tone controlled but edged with impatience. "Look at me and answer the question I asked you. Do you trust me, or do you not?" His eyes held hers firmly. "Because right now, it feels like you are choosing your words instead of telling me the truth."
