s Diana winced under Maximilian's cautious touch. His fingers were gentle,

agile murmur, laced with disbelief and a

is tone mingling severity with an unexpected warmth. "Let me help you," he continued, gently tending to her

espite her physical state, flared with indignation. "I don't need marriage

red her words. "Why? Why do you push everyone away?" he pressed, not just as a

rfaced. "I want to see Bjorn," she whispered, each word soaked wi

dríguez?" he questioned sharply, his voice laced with disdain. "That crackhead h

the depths of her despair, her voice thundered through the small space, raw an

, the medical kit clattering to the floor, its contents scattering like his thoug

arsh whisper, an attempt to pierce her veil of anger. "

e metal clinking ominously as she seethed, her chest heaving with each breath. "No," she hi

old-hearted intent had nearly destroyed his closest allies. The dim light of the inter

he loomed over the woman, his hand instinctively tightening around her throat. The implications of her

teeliness, her body rigid under his grasp. Yet, even as his grip intens

"Andrine was pregnant, carrying Bjorn's child," he seethed, the words searing through th

deserve to bear Bjorn's child," she spat viciously, her voice devoid of remorse.

blind rage, he flipped her onto the floor, his hand connecting with a heavy thud against her cheek.

ding over her as she lay on the cold floor,

shock of his actions. The gravity of what he had just done – the viole

d captive. Maximilian turned away, his silhouette a stark outline against the fl

he hurled laden with a visceral fury. "How could you commit such cruelty against not just one, but three innocent women

calmness, her voice devoid of fear. "My people will kill her as w

struck out, each blow a desperate attempt to break through her shield of cold indifference. "Tell me

e tension. "Just kill me!" she shouted back, her voice echoing o

a, her resilience in the face of his onslaught only fueling his determination to fight harder. Despite his overwhelming desire to end the pain

at his sides, the storm within him raging unchecked. He needed answers, but not at the cost of his h

o her. "No matter the cost. And I will bring justice for Andrine,

ell, his steps echoing down the hallway, a

oarse with emotion. As he strode out, his footsteps echoed in the corr

the high stakes involved in her detainment. The air in the room grew colder

his own response. He knew this was far from over, and the path ahead was fraught with peril and moral ambiguity. For

orld itself was holding its breath, waiting for the nex