You failed

The room seems to grow darker, the shadows deepening, as Ramsey's anger simmers, waiting to boil over.

The locket, still hidden in the folds of his cloth, seemed to pulse with a life of its own, burning a hole in his pocket.

Swallowing thickly, he pulls it out and opens it, gazing at the delicate photograph within.

Looking at the woman he couldn't protect.

Sighing heavily, Ramsey tries to calm the storm raging within him, but the weight of the past keeps dragging him back.

He runs his thumb over the intricate design of the locket, the familiar action providing little solace.

Unbidden, he remembers the words that had ignited a fire of rage and betrayal within his heart, words that seem to always haunt him

"I wasn't the one who failed to protect the family he was protecting as well as their heiress. You failed, ramsey!"

Ramsey flinches, the pain of those accusations still raw and piercing.