Aria's pov
When Cassie left, I removed my nightgown and approached the bathtub.
My fingers gripped the edges as I slowly lowered myself into the water, allowing it to envelop me completely.
The first touch of heat made my muscles tremble.
The contrast between the scalding water and the cold air on my skin pulled a quiet sigh from my lips.
I rested my head against the bath pillow, letting the warm water slide over my skin in gentle waves.
It felt like soft, invisible hands easing the tension out of my body, offering instant relief.
The faint hum of the pipes filled the silence, and my reflection in the rippling water looked distant, blurred, almost like a stranger's face.
A woman who belonged to someone else's story.
Floating in the bath, I picked up a few rose
