Malgarius met her eyes. "That's not it, Gwen. You were a child then, and there was a lot at stake. It was never about trusting you; it was about keeping you safe."
"So you chose to keep it a secret," she said, her tone growing accusing.
"It wasn't my choice," he responded, his voice heavy. "I had no say in the matter. I had to honor my promise."
Gwendolyn took a step forward, her face flushed with anger. "Why should I trust you now? You've been keeping secrets from me for years. Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Because," Malgarius replied, his voice filled with resolve, "if I had the chance, I would do it all over again. Your mother was a good woman, and I will always honor her wishes. I may have made mistakes, but I did the best I could."
Gwendolyn's heart broke. Her emotions were a swirling mess.
She tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill, but the weight of the secret was too much.
