For what seemed like an eternity, Marcus remained silent, his gray eyes cold and unreadable. Samantha felt a growing unease in the pit of her stomach. Had she finally pushed him too far?
Then, almost imperceptibly, Marcus's rigid posture began to soften. The icy mask he wore slowly melted away, revealing a complex mix of emotions beneath. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but firm.
"Samantha," he said, meeting her gaze, "I forgive you."
Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived as Marcus continued.
"But I need you to understand something. This situation with Lily, the High Court, the letter – it's more complicated and dangerous than you can imagine. My caution wasn't born from a desire to keep you in the dark. It was to protect you."
Samantha opened her mouth to protest, but Marcus held up a hand, silencing her.
