Chapter 44

ALINA

I didn’t want to see him.

I didn’t even know if I could handle seeing Jaime after everything that had happened, but something inside me pushed me toward his room. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was the need for closure. Either way, I found myself walking down the hallway, my heart heavy with dread as I approached his door.

When I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat. Jaime lay on the bed, beaten and bruised, his face swollen and covered in cuts. The sight of him like that stirred something in me—regret, pity. It was hard to tell. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a moment, I saw something there that looked like remorse. He was quiet for a while. I did not know if it was his reaction to this or if his face had just turned that way because of the disfiguration in his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his voice hoarse and strained. “I shouldn’t have tried to force myself on you.”

I stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to believe him, want