Aria woke up with a sharp inhale.
For a second, she didn’t know where she was.
The bed felt too soft. The room too quiet. The air too still.
Then everything rushed back at once.
The stairs.
The waiting.
The empty door.
Her eyes snapped open fully.
She pushed herself up immediately, her movements too fast, her head spinning slightly as she did. But she ignored it.
Her gaze moved quickly around the room.
And then she saw him.
Adrian.
Standing near the window, already dressed, his back half-turned to her, like he had been there for a while.
Like he had been watching.
Her chest tightened instantly.
“You’re back.”
Her voice came out rough.
He didn’t answer immediately. Just turned slightly, his gaze landing on her.
Calm.
Too calm.
That alone made something inside her snap.
