Chapter 30

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The evening shadows stretched across the room as Max returned, his face etched with a deep frown. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, a mixture of relief and worry flooding my senses. But the relief was short-lived as his hurried movements indicated a sense of urgency, a need to be somewhere else, anywhere but here.

"Max," I called out, my voice laced with concern. "What happened? Are you okay?"

He glanced at me, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and something else—something I couldn't quite decipher. Without a word, he brushed past me, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The silence that followed his departure hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with a sense of dread.

I couldn't let him leave without an explanation. I hurried after him, desperation fueling my steps. "Max, please, talk to me! What's going on?"

He turned abruptly, his face contorted with anger. "Luna, it's none of your business! Can't you understand that?" His voice carried an edge, cutting t