"You want to talk about trust? Let's talk about trust. I've shared everything with you. My plans, my evidence, my vulnerabilities. I've told you things I've never told anyone. And you still won't say you love me back. Still hold those words like they're some kind of weapon you're not sure you want to use."
Her face went pale. "That's not fair."
"Isn't it? I'm risking everything for you. My position. My life. Lia's safety. And you can't even give me three fucking words."
"Maybe because I'm smart enough to see this is insane! Maybe because I know that us being together is going to get people killed and I'm trying not to make it worse by admitting feelings that will only complicate everything!"
We were both breathing hard now. Standing too close. The air between us crackling with anger and something else. Something desperate.
"You think I don't know it's insane?" My voice dropped. Got quieter. More dangerous. "You think I don't know every moment we spend together is another risk? Another chance to get caught? But I can't stop. I physically cannot make myself stay away from you even when every logical part of my brain is screaming that I should."
"Then maybe we should listen to logic instead of..." She gestured between us. "Whatever this is."
"This is love. This is the only real thing in my life. And if you can't handle that, if you can't handle me doing whatever it takes to protect you, then maybe you're right. Maybe this is a mistake."
The words came out before I could stop them. Came out angry and hurt and completely wrong.
Her eyes went bright with unshed tears. "Maybe it is. Maybe we should stop this before someone gets killed. Before your father finds out and destroys everyone we care about."
She turned toward the door.
Every instinct screamed at me to stop her. To grab her. To take back the words.
But my pride wouldn't let me. My anger wouldn't let me.
She walked out. The door slammed behind her hard enough to make the windows rattle.
I stood there, hands clenched, jaw tight, trying to breathe through the rage and fear tangling in my chest.
We'd just had our first real fight. Said things we didn't mean. Hurt each other deliberately.
And I'd let her walk away.
Fuck.
I wanted to go after her. Wanted to kick down her door and make her listen. Make her understand that the monitoring wasn't about control. That everything I did was to keep her safe.
But forcing the conversation wouldn't help. She needed time to cool down. To think.
We both did.
I'd talk to her tonight. Explain properly. Make her see reason.
The day dragged. Every hour felt like ten. I threw myself into work, into finalizing security protocols for my father's return, into anything that would distract me from the sick feeling in my gut.
By nightfall, I was exhausted. Emotionally wrung out. Ready to apologize, to fix whatever I'd broken with my stupid pride.
I expected Aria to show up at my room. It's what she'd done the past few nights. Slipped in around midnight, climbed into my bed, let me hold her until morning.
But midnight came and went. No Aria.
At 12:30, I checked my watch for the hundredth time. Told myself she just needed more time. That she'd come eventually.
1am. Stillnothing.
By 1:30, concern was morphing into worry. I walked to her room, knocked gently on the door.
"Aria? Can we talk?"
