章 162: A Clown's Resolve

The sun pierced through the thin curtains of Adrian's modest apartment, casting streaks of light across the room.

In the bathroom, he stood before a fogged mirror, gripping the sink tightly.

His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, droplets of water sliding down his face.

His reflection stared back, pale and haggard, haunted by the echo of Mercury's rejection.

Her words looped endlessly in his mind, each repetition a stab to his pride. Mercury wasn't just a crush, she was a spark, a guiding light, the only unattainable dream he'd dared to chase.

But now, she belonged to someone else. Someone who had everything he didn't.

He clenched the sink harder, his knuckles whitening as images of Eratz filled his mind.

The fame, the glory, the respect Adrian craved, it all seemed to fall effortlessly into Eratz's lap. And now, even Mercury.