CHAPTER 161

Jasmin's pov

I sat alone in my upscale apartment, the silence pressing heavily against my ears. The room, immaculate and orderly, reflected the controlled life I had built for myself, but tonight, it felt stifling.

I absently traced the rim of my coffee cup, the warm liquid long forgotten, as if its warmth could somehow counteract the cold weight of my guilt.

My eyes strayed to the letter I had been scribbling for days—a cursory note of apology to Varya, trying to elucidate why I couldn't remain.

But those words were devoid of substance, weak gestures to atone that hardly sufficed. No matter the earnestness, printed statements on paper with ink pens could not reverse the harm I'd caused.

The framed photo of Varya on my desk—one from our last carefree summer together—was a cruel reminder of what once was. Her laughter seemed to echo through the empty apartment, mocking my regret.

My eyes filled with tears as I considered the friendship I had violated and the trust I had broken. I had t