Alina’s POV
The water was still warm when I leaned back in the tub, scrubbing my body like I was trying to wash away every bit of yesterday. The fake smiles, the lies, the fear. My skin stung, but it didn’t matter. I needed to feel clean again. I needed to breathe.
When I finally stepped out, the room was silent. Too silent. I dried myself quickly, wrapped my hair in a towel, and looked around. The bed was empty. The couch, too. I frowned.
I don’t know why I expected him to still be there. Maybe I wanted another round of our stupid banter. That back-and-forth that always got under my skin but somehow made me feel alive. But the room was empty, and the quiet made my chest ache a little more than it should.
“Get a grip, Alina,” I muttered to myself.
He’s your sister’s husband. His absen
