The moment Raya stepped into Adrian's study, her heart dropped.
The room was empty.
No Adrian. No trace of his presence. Just silence and neatly arranged furniture that felt colder than usual. The air itself seemed untouched, as though he had never been there at all.
He had left again.
The realization struck harder than she expected. Her vision blurred, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up and spilled over. She pressed her lips together, trying to hold them back, but the ache in her chest refused to be ignored.
Why can't we just talk like adults? she thought bitterly.
The uncertainty was the worst part. Not knowing where she stood. Not knowing what they were now. She didn't need grand promises or dramatic declarations, she just needed clarity.
Adrian couldn't be the man from years ago and still be the same man from just a few days back. They had crossed that line before, long ago, and they had crossed it again only days ago… yet nothing had changed.
