Chapter 387

Emmeline’s fingers tightened on his shirt as tears welled in her eyes, transforming the world around her into a watery blur. The proximity to him—the man who had become her entire world and her sanctuary made the threat of separation all the more unbearable.

Her chest ached with a pain that radiated outward, making even breathing a conscious effort.

“I’m afraid of what is coming.” Her voice sounded small and vulnerable. “I don’t want to stay away from you, Mr. Blackthorn. I cannot imagine my life without you.”

The formality of addressing him as “Mr. Blackthorn” persisted even in their most intimate moments—a habit she couldn’t break.

Zavian’s patience finally gave way to urgency. He grasped her arm firmly and created space between them, enough to look into her tear-streaked face.

His unfathomable eyes searched hers with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her defenses, reaching into the depths of her soul where her darkest fears resided.

“W