Chapter 59. Unwavering Resolve

Victoria’s POV

I looked down at the gemstone resting in my palm, its weight both delicate and overwhelming. Facets caught the light from the crystal chandeliers above, scattering fiery hues of crimson, gold, and amber across my skin. The brilliance was almost too much to bear, as though the gem itself carried a presence—alive, watching, judging. It mocked the storm of emotions churning violently in my chest, each flicker of light stirring my unease.

When I finally dared to lift my gaze, Dominic was already watching me.

His expression was steady and unyielding, dark eyes fixed on my face as if he were gauging every breath I took, every flicker of doubt that crossed my features. But beneath that familiar intensity was something else, something softer. Warmer. A tenderness that felt almost foreign on a man like him, a man whose presence usually