Apologies

Sammi POV

Zade clears his throat, and when I glance at him, I see something I’m not used to—remorse. His eyes are dark, shadowed by guilt. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice low. “I’ve treated you and Grayson like the enemy. It was wrong, cruel, and there’s no defending what I did. Everything could have been resolved if I’d just spoken up. Instead, I suffocated you, pushed Grayson away, and tore apart your life.”

I blink, stunned. My eyes flit around the room, noticing the tension that hangs in the air. No one’s glaring at Grayson anymore—if anything, the anger is directed at Zade. I glance at his face and notice the bruising, the black eye, the split lip. Then, I look at Grayson’s knuckles, red and swollen. They fought? I’ve never seen them fight before.

“There’s a lot you don’t know,” Zade continues, his voice cracking slightly. “I thought I was protecting you, but really, I was just trying to hurt Grayson. I ignored everything I should’ve dealt with. I know you won’t understand it all