Aria's POV
The words hung in the air between us.
Damian's eyes widened in genuine shock. It was like I'd dropped a stone into a calm ocean—the surface remained still, but beneath it, currents were churning.
"Why would you think that?" he asked after a long pause.
His voice had gone tight, and I could see a muscle working in his jaw.
"Is this about those tabloid rumors? Aria, I thought we'd—"
"No." I shook my head, pulling my gaze away from his. "It's not that. Last night, you... you talked in your sleep."
"What did I say?"
His entire body went rigid. I glanced down and saw that his hands were clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles had gone white. He was digging his nails into his own palm.
"You said Vanessa's name."
The moment I spoke, I noticed some
