Lucian's POV
He sank to his knees, his body giving way as though the strength had simply drained out of him. His head bowed low, shoulders hunched in defeat.
Helpless.
"If you have ever thought of me as something," he said hoarsely, "let me have this. Don't take my only dream away from me. I can't hold on any longer without that drug."
My resolve wavered.
My vision blurred as my own eyes grew moist. He was not the kind of man who broke. Not even at the brink of death. Not even when the world had stripped him of everything.
And yet here he was, shattered before me.
I swore to myself I never wanted to see him like this again.
I drew in a slow breath, forcing my lungs to expand, forcing my mind to steady itself against the turmoil he had stirred within me. My hand, which had been poised to crush the box without hesitation, gradually loosened its grip.
Instead, I walked toward him.
"I will let you have it just this once," I said at last.
