He takes my hand from Kaz. “Whether you believe it or not, I love you. And I’ll prove it—every day until my last.”
My heart wants to forgive them. But my mind won’t let go.
My chest tightens. My breath shortens. The memory of waking up alone—hollow and shattered—hits me like a freight train.
“Kroshka,” Kaz says gently, “look at me.”
I do. He lifts my hand to his chest, placing his over mine.
“Breathe with me, okay?” He guides me through it.
Inhale. Exhale.
“Good girl,” Keir murmurs, and my core tightens traitorously.
Dario squeezes my knee, mirroring the breaths, grounding me further.
Once I’ve steadied, I nod slowly.
“You can’t just do this,” I whisper. “You left. And now you think ‘I love you’ is enough?”
I glance at the wall behind Kaz, my voice rising.
“I get panic attacks every time I remember waking up from death’s grasp alone. You broke something in me—and I’m not sure words can fix it.”
“We’ll fix it,” Keir promises. “Every day.”
“With actions too, not just words,” Dario adds.
Kaz nods. “From this day to my last.”
I hesitate, then slowly nod. “You get one more chance. That’s it.”
They each nod, solemn and grateful.
“And now,” Dario says with a grin, clapping his hands, “birthday presents.”
“You didn’t,” I gape.
“We did, princess. But you have to come downstairs to open them,” Keir says, amused.
“Let me guess—Lily’s orders?”
They chuckle. “Exactly.”
“Alright, go. I need to change,” I sigh, eyeing the clock. “I’m sure Lily has something planned.”
Kaz kisses my forehead. Keir and Dario kiss my cheeks. Then they leave.
“Thank you,” I whisper. They pause, smile, and keep walking.
My head is chaos. My heart is at war with my logic. I want to forgive them. I want the love they offer. But I need proof—they won’tleave again.
I throw on black jeans, a strapless blue corset, and matching heels. Hair brushed, lip gloss applied—I give myself a mental pep talk.
Then—oh, fuck. Katherine.
I race downstairs, nearly eating shit on the last few steps.
