The morning sun streamed through the windows of Liam’s penthouse, casting golden stripes across the marble floor. Ava sat at the breakfast table, her fingers tracing the rim of her untouched coffee cup. The diamond ring on her finger caught the light, a constant, glittering reminder of the cage she’d stepped into.
Liam entered the room, his presence filling the space like a storm front. He was already dressed in a tailored suit, his gray eyes sharp and assessing. “You’re up early.”
Ava didn’t look at him. “Couldn’t sleep.”
He pulled out the chair beside her, the legs scraping softly against the floor. “Nerves?”
She finally met his gaze, her voice steady. “Regret.”
Liam’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—annoyance? Amusement? “It’s a little late for that.”
