Anne's heart was pounding as the reality of the situation hit her. The council was about to take her away, to strip her from everything she had worked so hard to protect—her family, her son, her future with Damien. She couldn't let that happen. Not when Ryan needed her.
"I can't leave." Her voice broke, desperate but determined. "Ryan can't live without me. He's just a child. You can't do this!" She looked around the room, searching for any sign of empathy, but the council members remained stern and unyielding.
"All of this wouldn't have happened if Damien hadn't involved himself," Liana said, her voice calm but cutting.
"He never should have gotten tangled in this mess." She paused, her eyes locking with Anne's in a way that made her stomach twist. "But he did. And now we're all dealing with the consequences of his choices."
