Kayden
I felt a sudden, heavy shift in my own chest at those words. The painful familiarity of Soren's reality struck a chord deep within my soul. I shifted slightly in Rhys's arms, turning my head to look up at him.
Rhys was already looking down at me, his dark eyes filled with unspoken understanding. He didn't say a word, but he gave me a slow, firm nod like he was assuring me that he was right here and that we had survived our own battles and that soren was now fighting his.
Soren's voice continued over the speakers, cutting through the heavy silence of the penthouse. "For years, I put myself through absolute living hell on the ice. I pushed my body past its limits, endured agonizing training, and forced myself to become the absolute best skater in the world, all because I foolishly believed that if I collected enough accolades, my family would finally acknowledge me. I thought they would love me."
