Lucian's POV

I'm still reeling from the shock of what happened earlier. The flashback feeling that Julie, my girl's lesbian mate has left this life, feeling a mix of emotions—confusion, disbelief, and a newfound happiness, I now have Carla to myself alone. But now, as I sit in my room, my phone rings, and I see my foster mom's name flashing on the screen. I take a deep breath and answer the call.

"Hey, Mom," I say, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside me.

"Lucian, dear, I just heard about what happened," she says, her voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

"I'm still processing everything, Mom. It's...