CHAPTER 37

ADAM’S POV

I am completely taken aback by the sharp words spewing from George's mouth. It is a bitter realization that, in my absence, he and my family have denigrated Aria. The weight of this revelation hits me like a ton of bricks.

I cannot help but feel a pang of guilt, recognizing that this toxic environment is a consequence of my own actions. It is a sobering moment of clarity, as I come to terms with the role I have played in allowing such negativity to fester unchecked. The weight of responsibility settles heavily on my shoulders, as I grapple with the consequences of my inaction.

The shock hits me hard as I realize that neither George nor any of my friends have ever uttered a word about Aria in my presence. I never could have imagined that this was their opinion of my Aria.

The possessiveness implied by the phrase "my Aria" catches me off guard, as if acknowledging a deep connection I had not fully recognized before. It is a moment of profound revelation, as I struggle with th