Kiera's POV
The footsteps faded into the distance.
With them went the last shred of attention—the final piece of dignity she had left.
Kiera stayed crouched on the hard ground, clutching her knees so tightly her fingers ached.
The world around her felt muted, like someone had wrapped her in a heavy, suffocating blanket.
Why?
Why had it ended like this?
She wasn't supposed to lose.
She wasn't supposed to be humiliated.
Her chest twisted painfully.
She tried to swallow the storm of emotions churning inside her—the shame, the anger, the deep sense of betrayal she felt toward everyone... and most of all, toward herself.
She had truly believed that if she worked hard enough, screamed loudly enough, someone would see her.
He would see her.
But Leo hadn't looked at her with disappointment.
Or even frustration.
He had looked at her like she was nothing.
"Do you really think you're even worth hating?"
