Kurtis’s POV
The words tasted bitter on my tongue as I watched Lyra standing in front of me, her eyes wide with confusion, fear, and a flicker of hope. I could barely keep my voice steady, my heart torn between everything I wanted to believe and the damn images that wouldn’t stop replaying in my mind: her, with James, too close, looking like she was enjoying his touch.
She stood there, in my office, dressed in the same deep blue dress from last night. It clung to her, soft and graceful, a painful reminder of everything she was to me. And yet, all I could think of was James’s hand on her waist. I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, forcing myself to focus.
I wasn’t going to make this easy.
“What are you doing here, Lyra?” I said coldly, refusing to meet her gaze. “I thoug
