Chapter 4

I sat on the edge of Margaret's bed, watching her small fingers trace patterns on Guardian's fur. The stuffed wolf had been her companion since birth—a gift from Roman during those early days when his love still felt genuine. Now, as I watched my daughter's innocent face, I struggled with how much to tell her.

"Mommy?" Margaret looked up, her dark curls tumbling over her shoulders. "Why are you packing my clothes?"

I'd been carefully selecting items from her closet, choosing only what mattered most—her favorite dresses, the shoes she refused to wear because they weren't sparkly enough, the collection…