25: A Broken Man

MADELINE

A broken beast.

I had witnessed similar behavior in various men before. The way they acted, displaying a bullying nature in their quest for dominance while harboring vulnerability. Their tendency to drift into fits of anger and even depression. Their resistance to being cared for. The emotional detachment. The aura of danger.

The bitterness.

I was well acquainted with these symptoms, having spent my life around brooding men who never learned to control their primal desires or their tempers. Some might label them as primitive or barbaric. Beneath Victor's polished appearance, refined suits, and polished shoes lay a primal being who had fought his entire life to avoid being dragged into the depths of darkness.

But now, he had no choice.

I had also witnessed acts of desperation, the duty to protect one's family and legacy. That's precisely what he was doing. While I may have been a bargaining chip, I would also be his downfall.

However, it would not unfold as I had initial