Chapter 116

AARON’S POV   Fuck! I paced. Back and forth, barefoot against the cold marble tiles of my penthouse living room. The city lights flickered far below, uncaring, as if my life hadn’t just collapsed in front of the whole damn nation. The air was thick with tension, stale with regret, and somewhere in the background, the silent TV still replayed Kaelon’s public declaration to Liv. I had muted it earlier, but the images were enough. His eyes, that voice. Confession. Love. He had won. And I was left with the taste of ashes in my mouth. The door creaked open. My mother stumbled in. Her heels clicked messily against the floor, her perfume arriving before she did. Expensive. French. She clutched her purse loosely, her lipstick slightly smudged, her eyes dazed and watery. She had been drinking. "Mother! Where the hell have you been?" I asked, voice already hoarse from shouting into silence all night. She closed the door behind her, sighing. "Aaron, sweetheart... not now. I just got back." "Answe