My voice remained calm and controlled, but each word was loaded with years of accumulated pain. "Have you ever felt what it's like to have a knife pierce your heart—not enough to kill you, but enough to torture you day and night? It's like living in hell. And what did I do to deserve it? How did I let you down?"
Xavier seemed to struggle to breathe as my words landed. Each syllable was a needle to his conscience, and I could see regret washing over him. Too little, too late.
I noticed that Sebastian had positioned himself between us and the crowd, whether intentionally or not. His broad shoulders shielded me from view, allowing me a private moment of vulnerability without becoming a circus act.
Just then, a group of uniformed police officers entered the room. They approached the Green a
