Chapter 71: The Confession

**Thelma Zane’s Point of View** The air in the room was thick with tension. Aldrich stood before me, his expression a mixture of anxiety and determination. His usual composure was replaced by a sense of urgency, as if he were racing against time. Without warning, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his words tumbling out in a flurry of emotion. "Then let’s not hide it anymore," he declared, his voice resolute yet tender. "Let’s go public right now. We’ll announce our relationship to everyone. Don’t worry about the consequences—I’ll take full responsibility. Whatever the King or Queen might say, I’ll bear the brunt of it. I won’t abandon you, Thelma. Never." His words, though meant to comfort, only stirred a deeper turmoil within me. I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "No, not like this," I managed to say, though my voice trembled with emotion. Aldrich gently pulled back, his brow furrowed in concern. He took a tissue and carefully dabbed at the tears on my cheeks. "I