Chapter 77

Alexei took a steady breath as he reached the final lines of his story, his voice carrying through the silence of the classroom.

“He didn’t promise to erase my past. He simply held my hand and walked me toward a future where it no longer defined me.

And so, Noelle spent her days with the man who truly loved her. He gave her a family, and she... became his.”

The words lingered in the air like the last note of a symphony as he slowly closed the stack of papers in his hands.

Alexei lifted his gaze while his fingers remained resting lightly on the worn edges of his draft. He had spent nights writing this, pouring his heart into each word, hoping he could deliver the truth behind this story.

Tears glistened in more than a few eyes. Some students sat motionless, blinking as if trying to process the emotions overwhelming them. Others had their heads slightly bowed, discreetly wiping at their cheeks. A few simply stared, mouths parted, visibly moved.

And