AUTHOR’S POV

Hours dragged by, yet Aria still lay in the same spot, her tears soaking through the mattress. The weight in her chest made it hard to breathe, and every blink felt like she might wake up from a nightmare. But the nightmare clung to her, refusing to let go.

She couldn’t tell whether it was night or day anymore. The only time she moved was when the door creaked open and a maid slipped in to drop a tray of food. Aria would lift her head, her heart leaping, only to sink again ...