In that moment, he swore silently to protect them with renewed fervor. He would stand against any storm, even if it meant confronting the tempest within his own family.

Beatrice’s actions would not go unchallenged. Rowan realized her disdain ran deeper than he had acknowledged, and it was time for reckoning. Love, after all, was not just a bond shared between two people; it was a fortress built to withstand any threat. And Rowan was prepared to rebuild that fortress stronger than ever, brick by unwavering brick.