Chapter 70 He Apologized

• Lucy’s POV
• A small wave of jealousy rippled through me as I watched Nelly laugh and joke so easily with Kenneth. The sight stung more than I wanted to admit. It was strange — how someone who once felt like the center of my world now seemed like a stranger. The distance between us wasn’t only physical; it was as though an invisible wall had risen, keeping our hearts apart. We hardly spoke anymore, and when we did, our words felt forced, hollow.
• I missed him — deeply, achingly. I missed the way I used to throw myself into his arms without hesitation, how his strong embrace would shield me from the chaos of the world. I missed the way his scent wrapped around me — warm, musky, and familiar, a scent that could calm any storm within me. Now, that comfort was gone, stolen by duty, fate, and choices that weren’t even ours to make.