The ride back to the penthouse was silent, the hum of the car’s engine the only sound between them. Ava sat rigidly beside Liam, her fingers clenched in her lap, the weight of the evening pressing down on her like a physical force. The city lights blurred past the window, a kaleidoscope of color and movement that did little to ease the tension coiling inside her.
Liam’s presence was a storm beside her, controlled yet electric. He didn’t speak, but she could feel his gaze on her, heavy and assessing. Ava kept her own gaze fixed on the passing scenery, her mind replaying the evening—the judgments, the whispers, the unspoken challenges.
The car pulled up to the penthouse, and Liam stepped out, offering her his hand. Ava ignored it, sliding out on her own. She could feel his irritation, but
