"I know." Pain crossed his face—genuine pain. "And I have known for twenty years."
The confession stunned everyone, even Nathaniel. Lord Carter sank slowly into a chair. "Not a single day passed without regret." Tears appeared in his eyes. "Not one."
Genevieve stood motionless: years of anger, years of confusion, years of disappointment—all gathered in that moment. "Then why did you never tell me?" Her voice broke, finally, for the first time since this journey began. "Why did you let me wonder?"
Lord Carter looked shattered. "Because every year that passed made the truth harder to face."
Genevieve laughed softly through tears. "So you chose silence."
"Yes."
"And left me alone with the consequences."
Lord Carter lowered his head. "Yes."
No defense remained, no justification—only failure; human failure.
The room stayed silent for a long time. Then something unexpected happened: Victoria stepped forward, tears filling her eyes as well.
"Genevieve..." Her voice trembled. "There is something I need to say."
Everyone turned toward her. Victoria looked directly at her cousin.
"I spent years resenting you." The admission shocked no one more than Victoria herself. "People admired you, trusted you, needed you." Her voice cracked. "And I hated it."
Genevieve stared in silence.
Victoria continued: "The rumors at the Harvest Ball..." She swallowed hard. "That was me."
Charles exhaled sharply; Nathaniel felt anger rise instantly. Yet Victoria continued before anyone could interrupt.
"I told myself they were harmless," tears rolled down her cheeks. "I told myself you would recover." She shook her head. "But I knew what I was doing."
The confession echoed through the room. Genevieve looked genuinely hurt, perhaps even more than before. Victoria noticed.
"I am sorry. Truly. Not because I was caught," her voice weakened. "Because you deserved better."
Silence followed. Then Genevieve surprised everyone. "Yes."
Victoria blinked. "What?"
"I deserved better." The statement carried no cruelty, only truth. "And so did you."