Andrey's eyes flickered, pain passing through them like a shadow.
Lira folded her fan and looked him straight in the eye.
"And now? Look at you. Watching your past slip further away, completely unable to do anything about it."
Her voice softened, not out of pity, but truth.
"If you keep living like this, pointless, directionless, Father won't tolerate it forever. You could very well be thrown out of the house."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The orchestra swelled, guests clapped, and happiness filled the room like warm sunlight.
Andrey closed his eyes briefly wishing the music were loud enough to drown the regret clawing inside him.
When he opened them again, Liv had already turned away her world moving forward without him.
No hesitation. No lingering past. No space left for him.
Andrey exhaled shakily.
He never realized a single word could carry so much weight until now,
Too late.
