The ride back home was silent. Caius drove quietly, his hands steady on the wheel, and I sat beside him with my gaze lowered, nervously toying with my thumbs.

When he parked the car in the garage, we both stepped into the elevator. Still, he didn’t say a single word.

Guilt coiled inside me. I bit down on my lip, searching desperately for something to say, but the words never came.

“Good night,” Caius said plainly once we reached our floor, then turned toward his apartment.

I tried to stop ...