Desi bolted upright in bed, her breath ragged and her heart pounding. The sheets tangled around her legs as she struggled to free herself. Cold sweat clung to her skin, and the echo of her ex-husband’s voice still rang in her ears.
“No…” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her hands gripped the edge of the mattress, knuckles white. She could still feel the anger in his words, the way he towered over her, the terror that never seemed to fade.
Suddenly, the door to her room swung open. Lucas stepped inside, his face tense. “Desi?” he called, his voice low but urgent.
She flinched at the sound of his voice, her mind still trapped in the nightmare. Her wide eyes met his, and for a moment, she didn’t recognize him.
“Desi,” Lucas repeated, softer this time. He moved closer, his brows furrowe
