Mute

Chapter 55

Aria’s POV.

As Caspian entered the room, his presence seemed to fill every corner with tension.

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I couldn’t bear to look at him, knowing that his arrival meant confronting the turmoil that churned within me. But when his voice broke the heavy silence, I couldn’t ignore him any longer.

“Aria,” he began, his tone cautious yet sincere. “I… I wanted to see how you were doing. I’m sorry it took me so long to come.”

I turned away, unable to face him, my anger boiling within me. With every fiber of my being, I wanted to lash out at him, to scream and rage until he understood the pain he had caused me. But instead, I remained silent, my hands pressed themselves together.

Caspian approached me slowly, his footsteps sounding in the quiet room. “Aria, please,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with remorse. “I never wanted any of this to happen to you. I had no idea Ellen would seek your presence in her room. Else I would have stopped her.

His words cut through me like a knife, reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal. ‘You had no idea?‘ I signed, my

had you hands trembling with anger. ‘You had no freaking idea? Ellen framed me, tortured me, and all you can say is that fucking idea?‘

no

Caspian’s expression softened, his eyes filled with regret. “I know it’s all my fault. Everything happened because of me. But I will make sure she’ll never be able to hurt you again.”

I scoffed bitterly, the taste of betrayal sour on my tongue. ‘She will never be able to hurt me again? Is that supposed to make everything better?‘ I signed, my hands moving with an intensity born of frustration and pain. ‘Do you think that erases what she did to me? Do you think I can just forget?‘

Caspian’s gaze faltered, his shoulders sagging under the weight of my accusations. “No, of course not,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I want to make things right. I want to help you heal, Aria. Please, give me a chance to make amends.”

His words pierced through the armor of my anger, exposing the vulnerability beneath. How could he stand there, looking so handsome and caring, when all I wanted to do was hate him? It wasn’t fair, and yet, there was something undeniably captivating about him.

But I couldn’t let myself be swayed by his charm. I couldn’t forget the pain he had caused me, no matter how much he apologized. And so, I remained bold, refusing to let him see the turmoil raging within me.

Nor did I dare speak the truth–that I wanted to leave this castle, to escape the memories that haunted its halls. No, that was a secret I would keep locked away, hidden behind walls of silence and solitude.

As I sat there, feeling a wave of emotions flowing inside me, Caspian surprised me by squatting down in front of me. L watched him curiously, wondering what he was up to. Then, without a word, he reached for my feet and began to massage them gently.

At first, I wanted to protest, to push him away and maintain the walls I had built around myself. But as his strong, skilled hands worked their magic, kneading away the tension and pain, I found myself unable to resist. His touch was soothing, calming, and before long, I felt the tight knots in my muscles begin to unravel.

I glanced down at Caspian, my curiosity piqued by his actions.

What was he trying to achieve? But when I met his gaze, I was taken aback by the intensity of his stare.

There was a tenderness in his eyes, a depth of emotion that I had never seen before. It made my heart flutter in stirring something within me that I couldn’t quite comprehend

my

chest,

Chapter 55

And then, in a sudden, unexpected moment, Caspian leaned in closer, his lips hovering just inches from mine.

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My breath caught in my throat as I realized his intentions. His touch was gentle, tentative, as he closed the gap between us and pressed his lips to mine.

The kiss was soft, yet filled with unspoken emotions. It was a moment of vulnerability, of shared understanding, as if we were both seeking solace in each other’s embrace.

For a few fleeting seconds, I allowed myself to get lost in the sensation, to forget about the pain and turmoil that had consumed me.

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But as quickly as it had begun, the moment was over. I pulled away, my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at Caspian, unsure of what to say or do next. His expression mirrored my own confusion, but there was a determination in his eyes that told me he wasn’t ready to give up.

I almost reached out to touch his chest, to feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. But in the end, I pushed him away, my resolve returning in a rush of adrenaline. This wasn’t right. I couldn’t let myself get swept away by his gestures, not when there was still so much uncertainty between us.

“I can’t,” I signed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Not like this.

Caspian’s expression softened, “When will you let me in Aria?” He asked with so much longing and desperation.

But I didn’t respond. Instead I stood up and went out the bathroom, shut the door and pressed my back against it.

His kisses were still lingering on my lips.

My heart pounded in my chest like a wild animal trying to break free from its cage. I was supposed to despise him, to resent every fiber of his being for the pain he had caused me. So why did I feel this way?

As if to twist the knife in my already conflicted heart, I heard his approaching footsteps. My breath caught in my throat as he stopped suddenly, his voice piercing the heavy silence like a dagger.

“In whatever you do, just know I am never giving up on you, Aria,” his words hung in the air, heavy with promise and determination. “I will make you mine, rightfully, publicly, and then you will see how much you mean to me.”

he It was an opposite to the man I had known before, the one consumed by his own desires and ambitions. This man seemed different, caring, even. Despite my efforts to deny it, his actions spoke volumes. The way he looked at me, the way touched me—it was all too genuine to ignore.

And yet, it felt wrong. I was supposed to hate him, to resent him for everything he had put me through. But as much as I tr

ied to deny it, a part of me couldn’t help but wonder… what if?