AARON’S POV

Fuck!

I paced.

Back and forth, barefoot against the cold marble tiles of my penthouse living room. The city lights flickered far below, uncaring, as if my life hadn’t just collapsed in front of the whole damn nation. The air was thick with tension, stale with regret, and somewhere in the background, the silent TV still replayed Kaelon’s public declaration to Liv.

I had muted it earlier, but the images were enough. His eyes, that voice. Confession. Love.

He had won. And I was left with the taste of ashes in my mouth.

The door creaked open. My mother stumbled in.

Her heels clicked messily against the floor,...