g cup of tea. The hum of conversation filled the room, but all she could focus on was the tension in Brandon's eyes.

. "You brought me here because you wanted to tell me s

hesitation and resolve. "It's not that simple, Catherine. Once I te

e steady. "You don't have to prot

I didn't warn you." He paused, his fingers drumming against the table. "Do

no

s deals and public image," he continued, his voice

ned. She stayed quiet, l

rs. "A supernatural force that's been with us for generations. It's the reason

repeated, her voice b

a deal a long time ago-a deal with something they didn't fully understand. In ex

h churned. "What k

give it what it wants, everything falls apart. The money, the influence, all of it-it disap

r spine. "Are you saying your fami

curse works through accidents, illnesses, things that look natural on the surface. But the

strange occurrences she had noticed around Brandon, the unshakable feeling that

me this?" she asked

to get hurt. If you stay close to me, Catherine, you'll be in danger. The

their shop, the life they had built together. Was sh

ilt etched into every line of his face. He wasn't just telling her this to scare h

eston warned m

to survive is to keep our distance from everyone. To stay isolated. But I can't

reak it?" she asked,

amily has tried everything-priests, shamans, rituals. Nothin

her chest. This wasn't just about him anymore. If she stayed, she would be

he asked. "Why not leave your fa

isn't tied to the family's name or the businesses. It's tied

ard. "So, you're sayi

ng to find one. That's why I need to keep you at a distance, Catherine. I don't want

walk away, to pretend she had never met him. But she couldn't. Not when she kne

ere," she said final

Catherine, you don't unde

re not. You're just isolating yourself even more. If there's even a chance of breakin

ure of hope and disbelief. "Why would you do

rine said. "And because I can see how much this is teari

he tension between them eased. "You're brave

atherine replied.

e, but the weight of their convers

ves had just changed forever. The world around them seemed darker, more d

breaking the cycle, of freeing Brandon and his family from the darkne

what it