Something lingered in the air—not heavy, not sharp—just the quiet awareness that something fundamental had shifted. Not tension exactly. More like… consequence.
Maya wasn’t upset in the way people expected. She understood jealousy. She even understood possessiveness—accepted it, in a way. Damien was who he was, and she had never doubted the depth of his feelings.
What unsettled her was something else entirely.
It was the implication that her loyalty needed managing.
That her heart required securing.
That if someone made a move, the problem would be them—not her.
As if her love were fragile.
As if her choice weren’t already made.
So she pulled back, just a little—not to punish him, but to see. To find out whether he trusted her enough to let her stand on her own. Whether his instinc
