Tilda remained silent. Her jaw was tight and her thoughts ran wild.

Karina gave a thoughtful nod. "That adds up. Men can be sensitive when it comes to pride. If he thinks the marriage doesn't matter to you, he'll take it as a sign that you don't love him at all. And with someone like him-a CEO used to control and respect-that kind of blow isn't easy to swallow. That silence? It's him licking his wounds."

Could Karina have a point?

Tilda's eyes, narrow and expressive, shifted as she turned the thought over in her head.

Karina leaned closer. "Don't hold back, Tilda. Do you love him?"

Did she love Lyndon? Absolutely.

If she didn't, she would've ended it the moment he got tangled up with Rita. That would've saved her the pain.

Still, what was the point in holding on to a man whose affection always felt uncertain?

Her pride would never let her settle for that.

Rosalynn watched Tilda closely, picking up on every subtle twitch in her face. "Are you still stuck on what happened before? Or do you honestly believe he doesn't care for you the way he should?"

Tilda gave a sharp nod. "This isn't just a hunch. It's the truth. He's still holding on to the woman he lost. What he feels for me-it's not love. Not really."

Without missing a beat, Rosalynn shifted her daughter in her arms, allowing her to nurse from the other breast.

"Maybe it didn't begin with love," she said. "But after everything you've been through together, are you really certain there's nothing left?"

Tilda dropped her gaze. Her mouth tightened, but she said nothing.

Was there love between them? She wasn't sure.

The way he reacted after Sheldon's parentage came to Light— it chilled her.

If there had been real love, would he have given her the silent treatment for this long?

Rosalynn leaned in a little. "It appears that both of you believe the other doesn't love you fully. However, deep down, you truly have feelings for one another."

That might be it.

Tilda didn't respond, but the stillness in her expression said enough.

Karina nudged her gently. "You still have feelings for your husband, right? Then why not let those feelings grow into something stronger? You're afraid he's still tangled up in the past, but Rosanna's gone. That leaves you with the chance to become the person he holds closest. Why not step up and claim that space?"

Tilda gave a short laugh, bitter and quiet. "Rosanna gave her life to protect him. How am I supposed to measure up to a sacrifice like that?"

Karina squeezed her hands, her tone firm. "So what's your next move? Divorce? Think about Sheldon. He just got his family back. You are ready to tear that apart?"

Tilda stayed silent. The truth was, leaving had never been her plan.