Anna clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she stared at the door. “I need space, Jaden,” she called back, her voice firm despite the tremor in her chest. “Just leave me alone tonight.”
There was a pause, the silence so thick she could almost hear his breath on the other side. Then his voice came again, colder this time, with a sharp edge that sent a chill down her spine.
“You’re testing my patience,” he warned.
“And I don’t care!” she snapped, the words escaping before she could stop them. “I’m tired, Jaden. Tired of you, of this game. Just—leave me alone.”
For a moment, there was nothing. No response, no movement. And then, to her surprise, she heard the sound of his footsteps retreating, growing fainter with each passing second.
Anna exhaled shakily, leaning her h
