A sense of powerlessness flooded Charlotte Thompson's heart, and she kept choking on her sobs, her mind filled with self-reproach.
"I am covered in her blood."
"Charlotte!"
Justin Battleson's heart was breaking as Charlotte cried, so he took her by the shoulders and forced her to look up at him.
Then, he stretched out his hand to wipe away the mix of icy water and tears on Charlotte's face.
"Charlotte, look at me."
Justin spoke earnestly, then he cradled Charlotte's icy cheeks and planted kiss after kiss on the temples of her eyes.
"Charlotte, this isn't your fault, it's not on you."
"How can it not be my fault? I've brought this upon her..." Charlotte shook her head in agony.
"Charlotte, it's precisely because Raina Richard did what she did that we were able to rescue Jack so easily. It was Raina's choice that protected Jack. She did the most noble thing."
Justin's voice was calm, yet it miraculously soothed the pain in Charlotte's heart at that moment.
