ARIA POVI stayed kneeling, but now every second felt like hours, the silence was suffocating. He didn’t speak at first, and that silence was far worse than any punishment. My skin prickled, every second. Finally, his voice filled the room. “Forty-five minutes,” he said. “You’re forty-five minutes late.”I swallowed, the knot in my throat tightening. I had no excuse, none that would satisfy him. I couldn’t explain how it was difficult for me to sneak before I could be here. “I couldn’t… it was a bit difficult,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Father had guests over for dinner. They wouldn’t leave. And the new security cameras… I had to sneak through the servants’ corridor barefoot so I wouldn’t trigger anything. I ran across the grass, Adrian. I was terrified the whole time.”Adrian remained still, his back still facing me. His silence felt more torturous than any physical punishment could.“Look at me,” he finally said, and the simple demand sent a spark through me. I lifted
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