Willow materialized at his side, clinging to his arm, her eyes brimming with theatrical tears.
"Orson... does sister hate me?" Her voice quavered. "If she won't do it, I'll just... I'll just die. That's fine."
"The System said if I don't receive sister's blessing, I'll bleed from every orifice until I'm dead..."
Orson's face drained of color.
His hand shot out and clamped around my wrist—so hard the bones ground together.
"Renata! Have you lost all humanity? You'd rather watch her die?"
"I'm ordering you—get on that stage! Smile! Bless us!"
"Otherwise, get out of the Gilbert family—and get out of my company!"
Pain shot through my wrist where his fingers dug in.
I stared at the man before me, his face twisted into something monstrous.
Ten years of love. Ten years of devotion. In this moment, it all crumbled to ash.
[Stripping progress: 99%]
The countdown in my mind ticked down to its final minute.
Suddenly, I stopped struggling. I looked at him and let the brightest smile I'd worn in days spread across my face.
"Alright."
"Since you want my blessing so badly, I'll give it to you."
I wrenched my hand free and smoothed down my clothes.
"Let's go. The auspicious hour has arrived."