All Chapters of ATTACHED WITH HER OBSESSION: Chapter 41 - Chapter 44

The hallway felt longer than it should have.Every step away from Aria’s door echoed louder in my chest than on the floor, like the house itself was counting my retreat. I didn’t look back. I knew if I did, I’d stay. Or worse—say something I couldn’t take back.The night air outside was cooler than I expected. It hit my skin sharply, sobering in a way alcohol never managed to be. I stood there for a moment, keys clenched in my hand, breathing through the ache sitting just under my ribs.Let’s make this work.She’d said it like a plea.But also like an ending she wasn’t ready to name.The drive home blurred. Streetlights smeared into long yellow streaks across my windshield, my thoughts looping in a way that made it hard to focus on anything else. Every replay of the conversation ended the same way—Aria choosing control over clarity, silence over reassurance. And me walking away.By the time I reached my place, the adrenaline had worn off, leaving something heavier behind. I dropped my

After eating, I busied myself with the dishes. The sound of running water filled the kitchen, steady and grounding, even as my thoughts drifted elsewhere. I scrubbed the same plate longer than necessary, staring at nothing in particular, pretending the clench in my chest wasn’t there. I felt her before I heard her. Her arms wrapped around my waist from behind—slow, careful, like she was testing whether I’d pull away. Her forehead rested between my shoulder blades, warm through the thin fabric of my shirt. “What are you thinking?” she asked softly, almost a whisper. “Nothing,” I replied automatically. It was a lie. And she knew it. She didn’t move. Didn’t loosen her hold. “Please,” she said quietly. “Let’s talk this out.” I turned off the faucet and stood still for a moment, hands gripping the edge of the counter. Her arms slipped away as I turned to face her, but she stayed close, her eyes searching mine like she was afraid I’d shut down again if she blinked. “Okay,”