'How Could I Not Be?'

Lucius could see the disbelief flicker across Florian's face, his brows knitting together as if trying to process what he'd just heard. But what was there to be confused about? The answer was clear—so painfully obvious that Lucius wondered if Florian had been ignoring it all along.

Lucius already knew the truth.

Florian didn't love Heinz anymore.

He could see it. He could feel it.

Before, even the mere mention of Heinz's name had been enough to make Florian's emotions swell, love pouring from him in waves so overwhelming that it almost suffocated Lucius. Even when Florian cried over him, it had never been the sorrow of someone grieving a lost cause. No, even in his worst moments, his heart had still been filled with love.

But now?

Now, that love was gone.

Extinguished.

Lucius should have felt relieved. Should have felt satisfied. After all, wasn't this what he wanted?