CHAPTER 18 A FORBIDDEN LEGACY

There was a long pause, the silence heavy with tension and fear. And then, finally, Michael spoke. "Maybe I do feel something for you, Madison," he said, his voice a low murmur in the darkness. "Maybe, just maybe, there's still a part of me that wants to protect you, to keep you safe." Madison's heart raced, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest. "Please," she whispered, her voice hoarse and pleading. "Don't hurt us. Don't do this." "I can't make any promises, Madison," Michael said, his voice a quiet whisper. "But maybe...maybe there's a chance we could start over. Maybe there's a chance for us to be together, in a different way." Madison felt her heart pound faster, her breath catching in her throat. "I don't understand," she said, her voice a fragile thread of hope. "What do you mean?" Michael paused, as if gathering his thoughts. "I mean," he said, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "That maybe we could try this again. "I can't marry you, Michael," Madison said, h