AVERY’S POV:
The more I learned about Axel, the more my heart broke. My hatred for him had diminished so easily, almost effortlessly. How could I hold onto anger when I saw the truth so clearly now? He had been a boy betrayed, discarded, and left to navigate a world that had never once been kind to him.
The only person who had truly loved him—his mother—had been taken from him. And with her death, any chance of salvation had died too.
Now, all he knew was rage and hatred.
Exhaling softly, I rubbed slow circles on his back as he stood motionless, watching the flames consume what remained of his father. The funeral home was eerily silent, save for the low hum of the cremation chamber. The fire’s glow flickered in Axel’s dark eyes, reflecting something deeper than grief—something res
