Chapter 104

Theo's POV The moment Claire chose us—chose me—over Lucian's calculated temptation, something fundamental shifted in my chest. Watching her stand there, unwavering in her loyalty despite everything she'd endured, crystallized a truth I'd been dancing around for weeks: I was done protecting our relationship at the expense of her dignity. The rumors had transformed my brilliant, dedicated scientist into a pariah in her own workplace. I'd watched her shoulders carry the weight of whispered accusations, seen her retreat into herself as colleagues who should have respected her expertise instead treated her like entertainment. The isolation was killing her slowly, and my continued silence was complicit in that destruction. "Claire," I said, my hands still framing her face as the decision solidified in my mind. "This ends now. All of it." She searched my eyes, clearly sensing the shift in my demeanor. "What do you mean?" "The whispers. The rumors. The way they're treating you like some kind o