ANASTASIA’S POV

I watched as Nolan held Hailey so gently, his large hands supporting her fragile frame. I stood beside him as he admired her. His brows were furrowed as if he was still fighting to feel joy through all the pain.

“I should’ve been here,” he murmured, barely above a whisper.

“You can still be,” I said softly.

His jaw clenched.

Nolan turned slightly, not enough to face me completely. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” I asked, although I already knew.

“Act like everything’s fine now,” he said, voice low and tight. “Like I can just forget what you did.”

My heart sank. “I’m not asking you to forget,”...