AKIRA'S POV

After I spoke with Nana last night, I refused to go down for dinner even after she and Madam Yelena asked me to. Instead, I ate on my bed and listened to the chattering and laughter from them with pain in my heart.

I know it was wrong of me to still isolate myself even after what Nana and I spoke about but I needed last night to regroup. I needed that time alone to cry and myself together for the last time. I knew that no matter how much I needed to forgive Ares, I also needed to forgive myself.

I needed to stop blaming myself and...