CHAPTER 283: THE SELF GUILT

Juliet lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him, her eyes filled with guilt and despair. “How can I not blame myself, Caleb? Fido was right. It should have been me. Everyone who tries to protect me ends up hurt or worse.” She took a shaky breath, her voice growing more frantic. “When Daniel tried to protect me from Bruno Gonzalez, he was beaten. When you tried to protect me, you were shot and we thought you were dead. And now Maya… Maya tried to protect me from Daniel, and she’s gone. She’s gone, Caleb, and it’s all my fault.” Caleb sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her words. He knelt beside her, looking into her eyes with a steady gaze. “Juliet, listen to me. It’s not your fault. Maya made a choice. She saw someone she loved in danger and acted to save you. That doesn’t make you responsible for what happened to her.” Juliet shook her head, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. “But if I wasn’t there, if I wasn’t in danger, Maya would still be alive. She wouldn’t have had