Chapter 63

• “I didn’t know how to fix it,” Crown said, his voice low as he stared at the ground. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, but the usual strength in his demeanor seemed to have faded, replaced with a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before. "I thought I was protecting you by staying away, Ava. I thought I could shield you from the chaos, from the things I did."
• I was silent for a moment, unsure of how to respond. The emotional walls I had spent so long building up were crumbling, piece by piece, and I didn’t know how to stop it. Crown’s words were sincere, but the hurt between us still hung thick in the air.
• “I don’t know if I can believe that anymore,” I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. “I wanted to trust you, Crown. But you disappeared when I needed you the most. And I don’t know if I can just forget that.”