Watching from the threshold, Jayden’s heart tightened. A wave of guilt washed over him. He had taken Felix away from her—ripped a sibling from a girl who clearly adored her brother more than anything. The weight of that loss sat heavy on his chest.

Silently, he left the room.

Back in the corridor, the air felt cooler, the lights dimmer. The hallway stretched endlessly before him, the walls echoing faint whispers of memories. He walked without a word, each step measured, until ...