Chapter 85

Briar’s POV

The smugness that had been radiating from him like toxic smoke had died. He was humbled by Kylan. He knew then and there that he His expression shifted, morphing into something that almost looked like genuine concern. It made my stomach turn.

"I was worried about you," he said, his voice dropping to that soft, manipulative tone I remembered too well. The one he used when he wanted something. "When I heard you’d disappeared without a trace—"

"Worried?" I let out a bitter laugh that sounded more like a sob. "You were worried?"

"We fell in love, remember?" His eyes took on that distant look, like he was seeing something beautiful instead of the wreckage he’d left behind. "I saved you from that orphanage. You were so broken, so scared, and I gave you everything. A home, protection, love—"

"Stop." The word came out strangled. "Just stop."

But he didn’t st