The seventh day.
The final day of his humiliation trial.
Star City's sky was a cruel, oppressive gray. A bitter winter storm howled through the alleyways, slashing Ethan Blake's frail, beaten body like invisible whips.
He hadn't eaten a proper meal in a week. His once strong frame had withered to skin and bones. His knees were bloody and raw from crawling through the filthiest corners of the slums.
And now—here he was.
Collapsed at the same place where it all began. The steps of the old cathedral.
Where Amelia once knelt, begging for his love.
Where he stood tall, proud, untouchable… and turned her away.
His cracked lips moved without sound, his bloodshot eyes barely able to stay open.
"Amelia… forgive me…"
Through the blinding snowstorm, two small figures emerged like shadows.
Twin devils dressed in sharp, jet-black coats, their silver cufflinks gleaming coldly under the storm clouds.
Aiden and Aaron stood before him, looking down at the man who had fallen lower than any king before him.
Aiden held a black umbrella, completely unfazed by the storm.
Aaron slowly unwrapped a lollipop and popped it into his mouth, his eyes filled with mocking amusement.
"Look at him," Aaron clicked his tongue. "Seven days of crawling like a worm. And he still thinks he deserves mercy?"
Aiden's voice was colder than the storm.
"Mr. Blake, today is your final judgment day."
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat—a Life or Death Decree—signed personally by the twins.
Aaron held up a single coin between his fingers.
"Let's make this interesting," Aaron said, his lips curving into a devilish grin. "One flip. Heads, we grant you life. Tails… well, you'll never see us again. Consider it… poetic justice."
Ethan tried to speak, but his throat was too dry, too cracked.
All he could do was watch as the silver coin spun in the air, glinting like a cruel joke from the heavens.
The world seemed to stop.
Clink.
The coin landed on the icy stone steps.
It was… tails.
Aaron clapped his hands dramatically.
"Well, Mr. Blake… you heard the universe."
Aiden stepped forward, his eyes as sharp as daggers.
"This is where it ends. You no longer have the right to call us your sons. You no longer have the right to breathe the same air as our mother."
Aaron crouched down, his face inches from Ethan's.
"And before you fade into nothingness… let me remind you of one final thing."
He took out a tablet and played a live stream—Amelia, standing under the golden glow of the palace gardens, laughing softly as Prince Alexander kissed her growing belly.
Her face glowed with happiness Ethan could never provide.
"You should have cherished her when you had the chance," Aaron whispered. "Now, even your existence is nothing but a regret in her perfect life story."
Without another word, the twins turned and walked away into the storm, their black coats billowing like the wings of avenging angels.
Ethan collapsed completely, his body giving out at last.
And as darkness swallowed his consciousness, his final thought wasn't of survival.
It was of Amelia's smile…
A smile that would haunt him for eternity.