The weight of my actions bore down on me with crushing intensity. It shouldn't have gone like this. Lux's sad expression burned into my mind, etching guilt into every fiber of my being. I had done this. I had handed her name to Hannah, thinking it was the safest choice. But I was wrong. So horribly wrong.

Ever since witnessing Lux's intimate moment with Kooyoung in that recording studio, a seed of worry had taken root within me. I feared for their relationship and the impact it could have on Lux's chances of debuting. In my misguided attempt to protect Allison, Hanbin, and Jiwoong, I had chosen to sacrifice Lux. I believed that as the number one trainee, the beloved cash cow of Mnet and the producers, Lux would be safe from disqualification. But my assumptions had led to this devastating outcome.

How could I live with myself? The thought of Lux's shattered dreams haunted me. I had caused her pain, betrayed her trust, and forever altered the course of her life. The weight of that knowledge threatened to consume me, overshadowing the joy of my own accomplishment.

Ara's concerned voice broke through my self-flagellation, jolting me back to the present. All three of us had made it into the debut group. It should have been a moment of celebration, the culmination of years of hard work. Gunwook's worried frown mirrored the tumultuous emotions coursing through my veins. But Lux... Lux's absence loomed over everything.

No... This couldn't be happening. I couldn't accept it.

The room spun around me, stifling the air, suffocating me. I needed to escape. Without uttering a word to anyone, I pushed myself up from the chair, the metallic screech echoing through the room. Everyone winced at the sound, but I paid no mind. I had to get away, even if just for a moment.

I stormed past Hannah, that embodiment of malevolence, who would remain our boss. Anger and regret fueled my steps, urging me forward. But above all, I yearned to apologize to Lux, to express my remorse for shattering her dreams. However, the weight of my secret burdened me. No one could know what I had done.

As I burst through the doors, a wave of nausea washed over me. The reality of my choices, the consequences of my actions, threatened to overwhelm me. I stumbled toward the nearest trash can, emptying the contents of my stomach. Gasping for breath, I leaned against the wall, taking in deep, ragged breaths.

This was my reality now. I would have to bear the weight of my choices, the guilt that gnawed at my conscience. These decisions would stay with me until the end of my days. But amidst the suffocating remorse, a flicker of determination ignited within me.

I would find a way to repay Lux, to make amends for the pain I had caused. Someday, somehow, I would offer her solace and support. And as for Hannah, that harbinger of suffering, I vowed that karma would eventually catch up to her. The universe had a way of balancing the scales, of delivering justice where it was due.

I clenched my fists, the ache in my heart mingling with a newfound resolve. The road ahead would be difficult, filled with guilt and uncertainty. But I would carry the weight of my choices, learning from them, and striving to make things right.

This I swore to everything.

Hannah will pay.

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THE END of book 1

Please stay tuned for Star Planet 2 and the debut of Zerobaseone