Kian remained rigid, arms hanging loosely at his sides as Zara clung to him like a dying woman.
Her nails dug into the soft fur covering his chest, and her breath came out in short, dramatic gasps as if she had run miles just to throw herself into his arms.
Kian's jaw clenched, his patience already wearing thin.
She had done this before.
Too many times.
And yet, his voice remained calm, cutting through the room's silence like a sharpened blade.
"Zara, release me."
But instead of letting go, she clutched him tighter, tilting her head up with watery, wide eyes that begged for sympathy.
"Kian…" her voice wobbled, pitiful and weak. "Why… why have you been ignoring me?"
Kian's cold blue eyes remained unmoved as he stared down at her.
"I have been busy."
"With that woman?" Zara snapped, her sorrow quickly morphing into something uglier.
She jerked back just enough to look him in the eyes, her hands still desperately clutching his fur.
