Kahili gave him space. So alone, Valen grappled with his brewing humiliation.
The rejection stung. The realization that Tristian didn't want him, not in the way Valen had wanted to believe, cut deep. He clung to the memories of when Tristian's eyes used to light up from his presence, when he smiled so sweetly and didn't shy from his touch. He replayed these moments in his mind, trying to convince himself that not everything had been a lie. Surely, there must have been some affection there, some genuine connection.
But the evidence was long and it was overwhelming. He remembered the countless times Tristian had subtly nudged him toward Kahili, urging him to seek attention elsewhere. Tristian's compliments, once so flattering, now felt like diversions—ways to deflect Valen's affection and
