For days, I kept my distance. I thought if I left Antalya alone, maybe she’d finally cool off, maybe she’d stop fighting me, maybe I could make her understand. Instead, she starved herself.
When I finally went to her room, the first thing I noticed was how pale she was, curled up like a wounded animal. She looked so small—nothing like the spitfire who’d once tried to stab me with her own hands. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the ache in my chest.
“Antalya,” I said quietly, “You have to eat.”
She didn’t look at me, just kept her arms wrapped around her knees. “Why do you care?”
My voice was softer than I meant. “You’ll die if you don’t.”
She glanced up, her eyes empty. “Isn’t that what you want? Your life would be easier.”
“No.” I knelt beside the bed. “Listen to me. I… I don’t wa
