Laura tried to treat Henry with the usual warmth of an affectionate aunt. To persuade him to accept her proposed solution, Henry needed to relax and open his heart to her.

Henry sat on the multi-seat sofa next to the single sofa where Laura was seated, close enough to touch if he extended his arm.

It would be better if he sat farther away.

Laura kept her thoughts to herself. She feared Henry might burst into tears again. Once swept away by emotion, Henry could hardly escape the torrent. Today was the day to convince him, so his mood needed to be stable.

She spoke in a light tone.

“Well, Henry, was your journey here smooth?”

“Yes. The roads were a bit muddy, but traveling slowly made it manageable.”

“That’s a relief.”

Laura nodded with a gentle smile. Henry’s gaze, previously fixed on his aunt, shifted toward the fireplace.

“I was so worried after you left. I feared you might have had an accident riding in such a distracted state. You were so heartbroken.”

Henry’s cheeks flushed slightly, likely recalling his sobbing from their last meeting.

“I’m sorry about that time.”

Laura shook her head.

“As I said, I feel responsible for you. We’re family, and family shares and resolves everything together, Henry.”

“No, I shouldn’t have burdened you with my troubles, no matter what. If I’d just kept quiet, everything would’ve been peaceful.”

Henry hesitated before continuing.

“The reason I came today is to ask you to forget what happened last time. I swear I’ll never speak of my feelings again until the day I die. So please, treat me as your nephew as before, just the same.”

Laura let out a soft sigh.

“Henry.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“In the past four days, are you saying you’ve sorted out your feelings? That you no longer see me as a woman?”

Henry was speechless.

“If you wanted things to stay the same, you shouldn’t have revealed your feelings in the first place.”

It was a gentle but firm reproach. Henry’s head bowed.

“You’re right, Aunt.”

“Thank you for agreeing. Now, Henry, listen to the solution I’ve come up with. Keep in mind it’s entirely for your sake.”

Henry nodded obediently.

“When he returns from Leeds, my husband and I will leave for Europe within a week. We plan to be gone for at least six months. During that time, return to Cambridge.”

Henry, who had been staring at the carpet, turned toward Laura, his eyes widening.

“After you graduate, go straight to the Fairfax estate, to your other uncle and aunt. Stay there and immerse yourself in London’s social scene. Henry Fairfax, heir to Dunville Park, will be welcomed everywhere.”

“I know it’s not what you want. But the improper feelings in your heart won’t fade without a change of environment. Please, meet refined ladies in London. Then you’ll realize how plain and unappealing your old-fashioned aunt truly is.”

Laura smiled softly.

“You can do it, can’t you?”

Laura waited for Henry to nod willingly.

But Henry didn’t move. Not a finger twitched, nor did his eyes blink.

He stared intently at Laura, and she began to feel increasingly uncomfortable under his gaze.

“You’re saying we should stay apart?”

“Yes.”

“For over a year?”

“The longer, the better. I think three or four years would be safest.”

Henry lowered his head again, biting his flower-petal-like lips tightly. Laura grew more anxious.

“Henry?”

Her nephew didn’t respond. His hands, resting on his knees, clenched into fists and trembled faintly.

He shook his head.

“No.”

“What?”

“I can’t do it. I won’t.”

Laura was taken aback. She had assumed Henry would readily follow her guidance.

Steadying herself, she spoke again.

“Henry, do you remember what you asked me last time? You asked me to tell you how to stop this sin. I’m telling you now—this is the only way. Putting physical distance between us.”

“Please, just trust me and stay apart for two years. You’ll surely feel more at ease. This is the only way for all three of us…”

“Aunt.”

Henry looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.

“I beg you. Please forget my last confession and let me stay by your side as your nephew. I can’t live apart from you.”

Tears streamed down Henry’s face like a sudden rain against a windowpane, soon soaking his entire face.

“I know I’m being unreasonable. You’re right that I shouldn’t have confessed if I wanted to maintain our relationship as before. But I truly can’t imagine living without you.”

“Why?”

Laura was genuinely puzzled.

“What am I to you?”

“You’re my only hope, the one who saves me from misery.”

Misery. Had Henry ever been someone plagued by such a thing? And why did he need hope?

“What misery? Hope for what?”

Henry’s face paled slightly. He lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought, before letting out a sob.

“No one knows except Uncle. I’ve never told anyone. The truth is… ever since I left Paris, I’ve felt like I’ve been in hell. My soul is tainted, horribly crumpled and broken. Aunt, in Paris… I met a woman. Her name was Celine, and she…”

His confession continued.

Laura listened silently to Henry’s tale, the horrific memories that had scarred his body and soul.

When Henry’s confession ended, Laura was at a loss for words. How could such cruelty exist in the world? She had never heard of or imagined such a thing.

“I relive it in my dreams often. But now, instead of Celine, it’s you in them. The moment I met you under the maple tree. When I wake from those dreams, yes, I feel guilt. I know it’s a wrong feeling. But it’s not as horrific as Celine’s dreams. Mostly, I feel happy, and sometimes, it’s as if my soul is cleansed. That’s what you mean to me, Aunt. You’re a goddess holding sacred water that purifies and heals me. Without you, I’d return to that hell.”

Laura let out a pained, aching sigh.

Henry had endured something truly horrific, the kind of evil second only to murder that one human could inflict on another.

And it had happened during a time when Henry had given up his dream of being an artist and was already disheartened. The wounds he bore were likely beyond her comprehension.

Henry sees salvation in me. Probably because I’m the opposite of Celine.

It was true. Laura was, in every way, a different kind of woman from Celine. Though strong-willed, Laura harbored no intentional cruelty. She was kind, inclusive, and deeply empathetic.

As proof, Laura now felt profound compassion for Henry. As his aunt, she wanted to comfort him and let him stay by her side as long as he needed.

But his feelings were undeniably romantic, and Laura was undeniably a married woman with no rational affection for him in that way.

Embracing Henry would be a betrayal of her husband.

“Henry.”

Laura spoke with a heavy heart.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t comfort you. And I’m truly sorry, but I still believe you need to leave.”

Henry’s tear-streaked face turned ashen, as if he’d received a death sentence.

Unable to face him, Laura turned her head aside.

“I can’t comfort you. I can’t heal you. And I certainly can’t give you love.”

“I’m not asking for love.”

“Yes, you are. That’s why you brought me that jeweled bracelet and couldn’t hold back your confession. Deep down, you want… oh, it’s dreadful to even say. Ian told me you were an upright, admirable young man. How did you become so broken?”

Laura rested her elbow on the armrest and covered her face with her hand, not wanting Henry to see her distress.

“There’s nothing I can give you. Now that I know the nature of your feelings, returning to how things were is impossible. So please, go to Cambridge.”

It was a cold verdict. Though unavoidable for Laura, it was the worst possible outcome for Henry.

“Aunt, you’re my only salvation, my last hope. Please don’t abandon me. I need your help to live again—your letters, your concern, your advice. They’re slowly purifying me, helping me return to who I was.”

Laura said nothing. Ignoring Henry, she thought of Ian.

This isn’t a problem I can solve.

Laura felt defeated. She should Almondsbury have confessed to her husband. With his help, she might have persuaded Henry better.

But suddenly, Henry leapt to his feet. He took a step toward Laura and knelt before her.

“Henry…!”

Laura stared down at him in shock.

Instead of tears, Henry’s eyes now held a desperate glint, like a drowning man spotting a lifeboat.

He reached out. His large hand, contrasting with his beautiful face, seized Laura’s small hands, which were folded neatly on her lap.

“Oh!”

Laura let out a startled cry and struggled to free her hands. But Henry gripped them tightly, unyielding.

The strength enveloping her hands was unmistakably a man’s. For the first time in a long while, Laura felt threatened by Henry. She realized why she had instinctively withdrawn her touch during his last tearful visit. Henry was lost in extreme emotions, and that made him dangerous.

“Henry, let go. Now.”