Natasha continued softly, "But what if it wasn't you today, but someone else? Someone who defeated me so easily and pinned me down—what do you think would have happened to me then?"

Without waiting for Andrew's response, she gave a bitter laugh. "I've walked the edge of destruction countless times to reach this position. Though I've always refused to trade my body for power, believing that true strength comes from within, a widow like me often doesn't have many choices."

"If you believe in t