Leo's POV
From a distance, I watched Jay disappear into the trees. I lingered far longer than was necessary, as if anticipating some sort of resolution. Amari's heart, a treasure I had longed for, belongs to another. Yet, my own heart struggled to grasp the harsh reality of this truth. It wasn't arrogance that whispered within me, nor did I dare think myself superior to Jay, for, by all accounts, I too would choose Jay over me.
I could hear the faint echo of each departing footstep as the world around me emptied, leaving me standing in solitude like a fool, awaiting a miracle that deep down I knew would never manifest. Even when I found myself utterly alone, I remained rooted in place, a stubborn sentinel of foolish hope. I was acutely aware of the sheer senselessness of my lingering pr
