fADEL’S POV

"You are back," she greeted me, her voice flat, monotone, and utterly devoid of the joy I had been craving.

“And you are different. What happened to you?” I asked, taking a seat even though she still refused to face me.

“Nothing happened to me. I am still the same,” she answered flatly again.

“I hate your tone,” I warned her calmly.

She didn’t speak.

“Come here,” I said, patting my thighs. “Sit.”

She finally turned. Her expression looked collected, but her ...