Chapter 71. Clean Up

Johnston’s POV

What I saw now was not the wicked, callous Marelva, but rather a shattered woman.

I grasped her hand gently, knowing my warmth brought her comfort.

"Everyone makes mistakes and miscalculations, myself included. True dignity comes in acknowledging them and making corrections. It's important to sincerely apologize to those you've hurt, but what's even more crucial is learning from these experiences, avoiding the same actions in the future, and striving to become a better person," I replied casually, my gaze resting on my plate as if discussing something utterly ordinary.

Her hand gripped mine more tightly as if it were a lifeline.

I went with the flow, without any pressure, allowing her to choose whether she trusted me and opened up completely. This woman had caused significant embarrassment for me in front of my Alpha, so I wouldn’t make it simple for her to escape responsibility for her negative behavior. As her mate, it