Catherine closed the album, her finger lingering on the baby photo pasted on the cover. Chubby cheeks. Defiant little grin. Eyes already too sharp for a child.
Her heart softened.
He had lost so much in this life. And she knew…she knew, she was one of the few things that made him genuinely happy for now.
Could she really walk away from that?
Her hand drifted to the bracelet. The metal felt warm now against her skin, almost alive.
It's a pity, she thought quietly. If I didn't remember my past…
Maximilian would have been perfect. Steady. Responsible. Devoted.
If only…
A loud crash shattered her thoughts.
"Mom! You will not believe what happened in Paris—"
Catherine blinked as a whirlwind of energy burst into the room.
Maximilian's sister. Bright. Loud. Effortlessly alive.
