Chapter 55

Even in the haze of alcohol, her name tastes like the sweetest wine on my lips.

-Unknown.

|K I R I L L|

I lurked in the shadows, keeping a low profile as I obsessively watched Aleeza's every move. The guilt of my secret surveillance over the past week pressed down on me like a lead weight.

Through the window, I caught a glimpse of Aleeza and Lev in her apartment. Her frustration and resignation about leaving for a few days hung in the air. My heart tightened, realizing she sensed a mysterious watcher.

The urge to burst inside, spill my guts, and apologize for my silent stalking overwhelmed me. But doubt held me back. Was it too late to unravel the mess I'd made, to confess that my feelings had gone way beyond a casual curiosity?

My eyes betrayed the internal turmoil as I debated my next move. Aleeza, blissfully unaware, continued chatting with Lev, oblivious to the tempest raging within me.

As she spoke, the need to confess intensified. I'd played a twisted game with her emotions, an