They stared at each other in silence.
Claudia watched him, her expression serene, a faint smile on her lips. From the first words she ever spoke to the bloom of her youth, from the first stirrings of love to the day she became his wife, that one name—York—had been the soundtrack to her entire life.
It all started with that name, and now, it would all end with it.
Through her blurry vision, Claudia imagined her innocent, carefree younger self walking toward her, a dagger in hand. That younger version of her smiled as she plunged the blade into her heart, asking the woman she had become, "Is that deep enough?"
Claudia closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in pain. "Yes," she answered silently. "It's deep enough. And it hurts more than enough."
But there would never be a next time.
York stared at Claudia, completely mesmerized. Seeing the tears roll down her pale cheeks, he felt a sharp, piercing pain in his chest. Her one word, ‘congratulations,' and the way she said his name—each syllable was like a knife, carving his name into his heart, deep and heavy, drawing blood with every stroke.
Ann saw the spellbound look on York's face as he took a hesitant, careful step toward Claudia. Panicked, she broke free from the bodyguards and rushed to block his path. She moved to his other side, obstructing his view of Claudia. "York, what are we going to do?" she sobbed. "You were just trying to help me. How did things get like this?"
Ann's crying snapped York back to reality. He suppressed the strange feeling rising in his chest and comforted her, "Ann, don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe."


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