DAMIEN'S POV
Victoria's sentencing was fifteen years with possibility of parole after ten. I didn't attend. Dr. Reeves said I'd done enough, that I didn't owe her my presence.
James called afterward with the details.
"She cried when the judge read the sentence. Asked if you were there."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. I wasn't in the courtroom. Her lawyer told me."
I felt nothing. Just numbness where guilt should have been.
"Is that wrong? That I don't feel anything?"
"That's shock, Damien. It'll hit you later."
He was right. Three days later, I was in a board meeting when it crashed into me—my mother was in prison because of my testimony. I excused myself, barely made it to the bathroom before the panic attack hit.
I called Elara from the bathroom floor.
"I can't breathe."
"Yes
