Aria
I woke up gasping for air, my hands flying to my throat. The memory of Max's fingers crushing my windpipe made me choke on nothing but fear. For a moment, I didn't know where I was, the unfamiliar ceiling spinning above me.
I tried to sit up, but my head pounded so violently I had to lie back down. This wasn't our apartment. The room was larger with heavy curtains blocking out most of the daylight. Some kind of villa or mansion, by the looks of it.
The door opened with a soft click, and Max strolled in casually, as if we were on some romantic getaway. His expression was neutral, almost bored as he assessed me.
"Ah, I can see you're awake," he remarked, leaning against the doorframe.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes despite the fear coursing through me. "How observant of you," I r
