Chapter 86

Alex pushed open the door, and Alice entered the room with a heavy heart. As Lucas stood facing outward, a strange longing enveloped him, an intense desire to see Alice, to hold her close, to feel her touch, and to taste her kiss. This longing had been gnawing at him since he had left home that morning without speaking to her. Now, regret flooded his mind as he pondered why he hadn't kissed her before he departed, and the images from that morning only fueled his frustration and anger. The faces of Alice and James kept invading his thoughts, refusing to be cast aside no matter how hard he tried. The ease and comfort he had observed between Alice and James only added to his turmoil, exacerbating his feelings of jealousy and insecurity. This internal struggle was driving him to the brink of madness, leaving him feeling as though he would lose his grip on reality if he didn't see her soon. As he stood facing outward, he felt a shift in the air, a strange sensation tugging at his heart. As