Chapter 12:  Torn Choices

Kurtis’ POV

I stood there, watching Lyra walk away, her hurt and frustration hitting me like a physical blow. I wanted to call after her, to explain, but she was already out of sight. The emptiness left behind was suffocating, a gnawing sense of dread settling in my chest.

I muttered to myself, “Goddammit, Kurtis. What have you done?”

The villa seemed to close in on me as I struggled to reconcile my thoughts. “I need to figure this out,” I said aloud, pacing the length of the hallway. “Angela and Lyra, everything’s so messed up. How did I let it get this far?”

My mind raced with the weight of my decisions. “I thought I could handle this, that I could manage both sides. But it’s tearing me apart.” I stopped abruptly, pressing my hands to my face. “Angela’s here, and she’s a part of my past. But Lyra, she’s here, and she’s real. I can’t keep dragging them both through this chaos.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. “Okay, focus. Angela’s the next step. I need to c