Chapter 21: I’m Sorry, Claire.

Claire's POV

"I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't know… I didn't realize…" Evander stammered, trying to piece together the words that felt too late, too empty.

"You didn't care!" I cut him off, my voice rising sharply, filled with the hurt I had been carrying for so long. "You didn't care enough to notice, Evander! You didn't care enough to be there! I was all alone, grieving for the child I lost, while you were with her. Her."

He stood there, his body shaking as he tried to form a response. His eyes, filled with tears now, told a story of regret, but I was too far gone. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely holding together. "I'm so, so sorry. If I could take it all back, I would. But I can't… I can't bring him back… I can't undo the hurt I caused you."