|| VIKTOR'S POV ||

As Asher's harsh words echoed in the air, a wave of guilt washed over me, threatening to consume me entirely. I had never seen him so enraged, so filled with fury and bitterness, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow responsible for Athena's suffering. But as much as I wanted to reach out to her, to offer her some semblance of comfort, Asher's steely glare and biting words kept me at bay.

"Asher, please," I pleaded, my voice strained with emotion as I took a tentative step forward. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I never wanted to hurt Athena."...