BRIAR’S POV
I resolve to accept that I had seen it all wrong, that it’s all just wishful thinking.
A part of me still clings to the hope of Tavian’s affection—the part that somehow projected a false reality at my lowest moment to console me, to make me believe Tavian was that concerned about me.
It’s the only way I can make sense of the situation without losing my mind.
Yet, there’s a subtle, silent voice in the back of my mind, pushing the possibility that I might be wrong.
I back up my resolve with the clear evidence of our history.
“Briar…” Deborah’s voice, calm as still waters, interrupts my thoughts. “You’re lost in a daze again.”
Her blunt observation pulls me back to reality—the reality where I’m standing in the middle of the kitchen, cleaning the floors.
I shake off the
