Chapter 31

My heart pounded in my chest as Shraf guided me towards the car. The cold metal of the door pressed against my back as he opened it, and I hesitated before slipping inside. The leather seat welcomed me, but there was an unspoken tension in the air that made the space feel confining.

Shraf settled in beside me, his movements precise and controlled. The engine roared to life, filling the silence that hung heavily between us. I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, my eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. The city lights blurred into streaks of color, a chaotic reflection of the turmoil within me.

The car pulled away from the curb, and the rhythm of the road seemed to amplify the silence inside the vehicle. Shraf's hands firmly gripped the steering wheel, his focus ahead. I fidgeted with the hem of my dress, a physical manifestation of my inner unrest. The weight of the ring on my finger felt like a tangible reminder of the constraints that bound me.

I stole a glance