[Lucien]
I didn’t want to disappoint her again.
As soon as Violet disappeared up the stairs, I found myself staring at the ceiling—aching, breath shallow, mind racing with everything I hadn’t said. The kiss still burned on my lips, but what burned deeper was the shame.
She’d stayed with me. Despite everything I’d done, everything I was.
And all I could think was—‘I can’t be that man anymore’. The one who ruins every good thing that touches him.
I wanted to be someone my daughter—our daughter, could look up to. Someone Violet didn’t have to walk on egg shells around. I wanted to be more than just the monster who marked her and threatened her and swore to kill anyone she ever loved. I wanted her to look at me and not see regret.
god, I wanted to be better.
I wanted to be hers—and not
