I shrugged my shoulders, and my expression remained neutral. “She needed a push. Now, we will see if she is truly capable or if she will crumble under the pressure.”

Axel chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I won’t mind seeing her crumble. She is too soft for this life.”

I looked in the distance. I knew she was too soft for this life. And I would make her strong, I vowed silently, I would make her my equal. She will never crumble, and if she did, I would stand right by her ...