The house was never truly quiet, not even at night. Guards' footsteps echoed in distant hallways, faint murmurs drifted through the walls, and the hum of security systems reminded her that this place was more fortress than home. Yet somehow, tonight felt different. The silence carried weight, as though the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Aria couldn't sleep. Not after the way he had kissed her the night before, not after hearing his whispered promises in the dark. Her mind spun in dizzy circles, torn between believing him and fearing what it meant to surrender. She had always thought of him as the cage—but now he was starting to feel like something more dangerous: temptation.
She got up, her bare feet soundless against the cold marble floor. Maybe a walk would clear her head. She pulled her robe tighter around her body and slipped into the hallway, careful not to wake anyone.
