What is the status of our relationship?

Lara’s POV

I crept downstairs with one thing on my mind—food. My stomach was practically eating itself, but the house was still silent, the kind of silence that felt heavy. The staff had gone hours ago, which wasn’t a surprise. I was late again. They’d probably tucked my dinner neatly in the fridge like they always did.

I opened it and pulled out something light. My hands moved on autopilot as I shoved the food into the microwave and leaned against the counter, waiting for the soft hum to finish.

“Why are you late?”

The voice cut through the silence like a blade. Deep. Close. Too close.

I froze, every muscle in my body locking in place. Slowly, I turned, my heart hammering against my ribs—and then I saw him.

Aiden.

Not the usual Aiden in a suit and tie, untouchable and precise. No. This time, it was just him—bare-chested, a pair of trousers hanging low on his hips, droplets of water still sliding down from damp hair onto his skin.

I forgot how to breathe.

No matter