Chapter 172

• Marcel's POV
• I closed the door quietly after settling Evelyn into the guest bed, her tiny form curled up like a kitten beneath the covers. She’d fallen asleep mid-sentence, mumbling something about butterflies and magic trees. I kissed her forehead and stood there for a moment longer, just watching the way her chest rose and fell in steady rhythm. Peaceful. Safe. It was moments like this that reminded me what I was fighting for.
• As I made my way back down the hall, I found Ella alone, seated on the patio outside the dining room. The night had crept in fully, wrapping the sky in deep velvet. Crickets sang in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees surrounding the estate. The stars above were sharp and clear, untouched by city lights. She hadn’t noticed me yet—her gaze was fixed somewhere far off, lost in thought.