Kathrine could not deny it.
Hugo had loved her. In his own flawed, stubborn, overbearing way, he had loved her fiercely. When he said he only wanted to ease her suffering, she believed him.
Any father who thought his daughter was in pain might try to rewrite the world for her.
But love did not erase the lies.
And that was the part that stung.
She had not expected him to keep things from her. Not repeatedly. Not so carefully.
The night air felt heavier as those thoughts circled her mind. Ethan noticed it instantly. The way her gaze unfocused. The faint gloss in her eyes as she stared at nothing in particular.
"Come here," he said softly.
He pulled her into his arms without waiting for permission. His chin rested over her head as he pressed a kiss to her crown.
She exhaled slowly against his chest.
