That night, Andres didn't sleep immediately.
Instead, he sat near the window of his small room, looking out over the city.
Lights flickered in the distance.
Movement never stopped.
Velmora didn't rest.
"…Neither do I," he thought.
But something felt different.
Not external.
Internal.
Lyra's words lingered.
"You're worth the investment."
It wasn't about business.
Not entirely.
It was perception.
Value.
Recognition.
Something he hadn't experienced much—
Not in his old world.
His thoughts drifted briefly.
To silence.
To absence.
To the feeling of being overlooked.
Then—
He stopped.
"…That's over," he said quietly.
Not denial.
Decision.
Because this world—
This life—
Was different.
And he wasn't the same person anymore.
Still—
For a brief moment—
His guard lowered.
Just slightly.
And in that moment—
He allowed himself to feel something dangerous.
Hope.