Ariana’s POV
The door had barely closed before the silence turned suffocating.
I could still feel it.
Her grip.
Her words.
“You’re not Alina.”
My chest tightened painfully.
She knew.
Not just suspected—
Knew.
⸻
“Ariana.”
His voice cut through my thoughts.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
I froze.
Slowly… I turned.
Damien was still standing by the door.
Watching me.
But this time—
There was no distance.
No calm.
Just intensity.
⸻
“What did she say to you?”
Straight to the point.
Of course.
I swallowed.
“Nothing important.”
Lie.
Weak.
Pointless.
⸻
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Try again.”
My fingers curled at my sides.
“She was just asking questions.”
“About?”
Silence.
I hesitated.
Big mistake.
⸻
He moved.
Fast.
Closing the distance between us in seco
