Aiden clenched his fist, frustration coursing through him as he listened to the Old Man's recount. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I thought using an avatar with no emotions would be a clean way to avoid complications... but I never considered how it would impact Ramona when they accepted her date and just disappeared afterward."
He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the situation. It was his mistake, he realized that now. Ramona's sudden change, her fury, and the devastation she was causing—he couldn't blame her entirely. She had been pushed to the edge, and it was his own actions, or rather the inactions of his emotionless avatar, that had tipped her over.
"This is spiraling way more than I expected," Aiden mumbled. He sighed deeply, knowing that the responsibility lay squarely on his shoulders. He hadn't anticipated the depth of Ramona's feelings or how she would react to what she perceived as betrayal.
