I clenched the steering wheel again until my fingers burned. But it didn't stop the next torture.
Ivan. His smile when he teased me. His warmth when I didn't want it. The quiet promise we made to each other that never got spoken out loud.
I'd protect you. I swear. And I failed. God, I fucking failed.
I used to think it was all my father's fault. But sitting there, I wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe it was me. Maybe I was the curse. The blood-born disease. The unfortunate son of a man who should've never had children. Maybe I was a reminder that monsters breed more monsters.
And what terrified me the most... was that deep down, I knew I was his. His son. His mirror.
I hadn't healed. Not even close. I'd buried it. Locked it in the darkest parts of myself and slapped on a suit and built a kingdom of concrete and silence to hide inside.
But it was cracking. And I was spiraling. Fast.
And then—
Her.
Aria.
