Most of the people in the room stared at Wayne's back as he left the room, unable to believe the willpower they had seen from the man to actually give up his family to another man for their own happiness.
But Julie stood apart, her gaze fixed on Cassius, intense and probing, as if she could unravel the enigma of the man before her by sheer will.
Wayne's words, his fear, his resignation, had painted a portrait of Cassius's power. This was a man who held sway over his own father, the patriarch, a figure of near-mythic authority.
His strength was also undeniable; Julie knew he could dismantle her Holy Guard with a single command, his power a tidal wave that could sweep away armies. Yet it wasn't just his raw might that set her nerves on edge, It was his charm, his ability to bend hearts and lives with a smile and a word.
