CH 13
The air in the room felt like shattered glass—sharp, painful, and impossible to breathe through. The phone still trembled in Aria’s hand, the unknown woman’s chilling words echoing inside her skull like poison.
“The man beside you… is your greatest enemy.”
Ethan hadn’t moved since the call ended. He stood a few feet away from her, but the distance felt like a canyon carved straight between their hearts. His eyes—usually warm, intense, steady—looked haunted… broken.
Aria’s fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white.
Enemy.
The word crawled into her chest like ice.
Ethan took a careful step toward her. “Aria… listen to me—”
“Don’t,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Just don’t.”
He stopped.
Her eyes lifted slowly to his. They were filled with tears… and
