The flower that blooms

Previously

…He saw her not as a victim, but as a survivor, as someone capable of fierce independence. He saw the strength that lay beneath the surface, the resilience that had been forged in the fires of her past. And in his quiet, unwavering belief in her, Lillian began to believe in herself again. The fear was still there, a cold knot in her stomach, but it was no longer paralyzing. She had Adrian beside her, a silent sentinel, and in his steady gaze, she found a courage she hadn’t realized she possessed. The thistle, even in its prickliness, was a symbol of enduring strength, and for the first time in a long time, Lillian felt that strength stirring within her.