Cain felt the moment slip out of his control the instant Faith's voice steadied and her acceptance settled into the air like a final decision that could not be taken back. It was no longer just a heated argument, no longer something that could be brushed aside with a few careful words or a forced change of topic. It had become real. Structured. Watched. Judged. And that made it dangerous in a way that went far beyond raised voices and wounded pride.
His chest tightened.
This cannot happen.
The thought came fast, heavy, almost desperate in a way he refused to show on his face. His mind began to race, not in panic, but in calculation, searching for anything, any reason, any excuse that could pull them out of this before it went too far, before it turned into something that would leave consequences he could not undo.
"Wait."
