Aria didn't dream of Damien that night.
She barely slept at all.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face. Heard his voice. Dream of me. Like it was a command her subconscious was trying desperately to obey.
At 4:30 AM, she gave up and got out of bed, deciding to start her day early. Maybe exhaustion would quiet the chaos in her mind.
Or maybe she was just hoping to avoid another moment alone with Damien Blackwood until she'd figured out how to get her traitorous body under control.
The staff kitchen was empty when she arrived at 5:15, the estate still wrapped in pre-dawn silence. She made coffee the cheap stuff kept for employees, not the expensive beans reserved for the Blackwood family and sat at the small table, pulling out her real phone.
Three missed calls from the hospital. A text from Marcus: Your mom is asking about you. When can you visit?
Guilt twisted in her chest. Sunday. She could visit Sunday. That was only three more days.
