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Does she have feelings for Arthur? Yeah, sure, but not the kind of love that makes you stay. It’s the kind of sentimental, nostalgic affection people get for a guy who adored them once and still would. Sweet for her, painful for him. The problem is: she loved the version of Arthur she wished existed, not the man he actually was. And because of that, every time she showed up, it wasn’t to build a life together, it was to use his loyalty, his warmth, and his guilt to fix something in her world.

She wanted his help. She wanted his protection. She wanted his attention. She wanted his devotion.

But she never once offered stability, sacrifice, or commitment back. Arthur didn’t deserve someone who comes and goes like a breeze when her life gets messy. He deserved someone who chooses him. Mary Linton just never had the spine for the kind of love Arthur required.