The weight of her past actions crashed down upon her like a tidal wave, leaving her gasping for breath as she stared up at Ciara with wide eyes, her soul laid bare before the merciless judgment of the child she had wronged.
***
As the chaos subsided and the assailants lay defeated on the rooftop, Lucas hurried to Dylan's side, catching his swaying form before he could collapse.
"Why... why did you come here...?" Dylan's voice was strained, choked with blood as he struggled to speak.
Lucas moved quickly to support him, his expression filled with concern. "Don't strain yourself," he urged, his voice firm but gentle. "We need to get you out of here."
But Dylan persisted, his eyes flashing with a mixture of fear and determination. "That bastard... is back," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's going to take his revenge on Ryley..."
