Amelia POV

The morning light was cruel. It spilled through the curtains like shards of gold, piercing the quiet stillness of my room. I hadn’t slept. How could I? The events of last night replayed over and over in my mind like a broken record.

Maxwell had stood at my door after more than a month of silence—looking tired, looking almost human again—and for a terrifying moment, my heart had wanted to run to him. But reality had clawed its way back just as quickly, whispering reminders ...