Darius's POV
I can't remember the last time I felt this uneasy around anyone, not since taking over as heir to my family's empire. But standing here, next to Allison, the weight of my silence is suffocating. The urge to apologize claws at me, more desperate than it's ever been.
She's here, with me—her hand resting in mine—but she hasn't said a single word since we arrived at this party. The silence between us feels thick, unbearable. And the worst part? She looks stunning tonight, more radiant than ever. It makes my guilt twist even tighter. How can she seem so flawless, as if she hadn't just endured 0010's brutal beating?
I glance down at her, my voice barely a whisper. "Are you okay?" I ask, but my worry is obvious. Maybe too obvious.