COURTNEY ATHENA's POV
"Why the hell are you here?"
Aiden's voice cut through the stillness of the grand living room, each word laced with a biting edge that reverberated off the high, paneled walls. The room, with its towering ceilings and expanses of shadow, seemed to swallow sound and light alike. I could barely make out the intricate details of the room’s opulence—a massive crystal chandelier that hung like a frozen star, and walls lined with dark, polished wood, interspersed with the occasional piece of abstract art.
His footsteps, each deliberate and heavy, echoed through the cavernous space, amplifying the tension that hung in the air. I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the oppressive weight of his presence grow with each step he took. My eyes struggled to adjust to the dim light, c
