His words struck her with the harshness of reality, and she faltered, her mind racing back to the moments earlier that day, to the reckless abandon that felt far removed from this cold confrontation.

Meanwhile, across town, Michael sat in his own personal hell. His phone buzzed relentlessly with messages that he couldn’t bring himself to read. Each one was a reminder of his betrayal, not just to his brother but to his own sense of self. The photos, the shame, the knowledge that he had shattered his own family—it was an anvil on his conscience, far heavier than he anticipated.