Emilia's POV
The sound of running water filled the bathroom, steady and soothing—at first.
I stood under the spray, my palms flat against the cold tile, eyes closed, trying to breathe. The steam rose around me like a ghost, curling against my skin. For a few seconds, it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
I wanted to scrub everything away—the anger, the tears, the pain that still lingered after Maximus walked out. But the moment the hot water touched my skin, a sharp shiver crawled up my spine.
It started slow—just a faint tremble. Then, all at once, heat slammed into me like a wave.
My body burned.
My breath caught in my throat as I staggered backward, grabbing the edge of the glass wall. “No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Not again.”
But the heat didn’t stop. It s
