Chapter Title: Unbreakable Bonds

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Skylar's POV

Skylar stood there, the weight of Chris's words pressing down on her. She could feel the tension in the room, thick and heavy, as if the air itself was charged with something deeper—something unspoken.

Chris, always the master of control, stood a few steps away, his figure a commanding presence in the room. She watched him for a moment, trying to decipher the lines of his expression, but he was unreadable. She knew him too well by now—this wasn't about her role in the empire, not in the way she had been questioning. This was about something deeper, something that always simmered beneath the surface of their relationship.

Skylar took a step forward, her voice steady but laced with the vulnerability she hadn't shown in years. "I don't need to be in the shadows, Chris. I've stood by your side for a long time. And yet… I wonder if you've ever seen me as more than just the woman behind the throne."

For a long moment, Chris didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at her, his piercing gaze scanning her face, searching for something. Skylar met his eyes, unwavering, determined to make him see the truth of her words.

Then, slowly, he took a step toward her, his movements deliberate. His gaze softened, though it still held a measure of authority that she couldn't escape.

"Skylar," he said, his voice quiet but certain, "you have never been just the woman behind the throne. You have been with me every step of the way. Don't mistake the weight of what you've done for me as something small." His eyes darkened with meaning. "Without you, this empire would not have been what it is. You've shaped it just as much as I have, perhaps even more in ways that cannot be seen."

Skylar felt a warmth spread through her chest, the tension she'd been carrying for what felt like years slowly beginning to ease. She hadn't expected this from him—not in the way he was saying it. Not in a way that acknowledged her role without diminishing it.

"You've never truly asked for anything, Skylar," he continued, his voice lowering, "and that has always been your strength. You've played your part, quietly and fiercely. But I see you." He paused, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming in a way that was both comforting and intense. "I will never let you think you are anything less than the partner I need."

Skylar's heart beat faster, her emotions a tangled knot inside her. She had always known Chris to be a man of power, a man who didn't reveal his vulnerabilities. But this... this side of him, this unspoken understanding, was something different.

"Do you understand now?" he asked, his voice thick with meaning. "I assure you, Skylar, you are as integral to this empire as I am. Without you, none of this would have been possible."

For a moment, Skylar simply stood there, processing his words. It wasn't often that Chris allowed himself to be so vulnerable, so direct. He was right; he had never once made her feel small or unimportant, but this was something deeper. It was a reminder, perhaps, that no matter how powerful they became, they were still intertwined—his success was hers, and her strength had always been the foundation of everything they had built.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling a sense of peace settle over her.

Chris's gaze softened even further, though the sharp edges of his resolve never fully left his eyes. "I know what you need, Skylar. And I will never forget that you're not just my wife. You are my equal. No one else can take that place."

She nodded, feeling the last of her doubts lift. She didn't need to ask for anything more, not when he had already given her the most important thing: his recognition. His assurance.

"I'll continue to stand with you, Chris. For the empire. For the future," she said, her voice stronger now, clearer.

Chris gave a small nod, his lips curling into the faintest of smiles. "And I'll stand with you. Always."

For a long moment, neither of them moved. There was a silent understanding between them, one that didn't need words to be heard. They were partners in this, always had been, and always would be.

Skylar stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm, her touch light but full of meaning. "We'll make sure the Blackwood legacy endures. Together."

Chris's gaze softened, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of leadership seemed to lift just slightly. In that moment, Skylar knew that no matter what challenges came their way, they would face them as one.

Together.

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