Chapter 38 Regret & Redemption (5)

• The clock in Dane's apartment, now his refuge since his fallout with his mother, showed that it was well past midnight.
• This evening was different from his usual routine. Instead of standing on his balcony with a wine glass in hand and the city lights below him, Dane found himself in a less composed state. He was sprawled on the living room sofa, surrounded by a testament to his indulgence: a collection of empty wine bottles.
• His bare chest rose and fell slowly as he stared blankly at the floor, his eyelids heavy and half-closed.