She couldn’t figure him out—he was so distant, so closed off. But the few moments when they’d spoken had felt... different. There was something about him, something that pulled her in, even when he pushed her away.

She wasn’t prepared when the door to the empty room opened, revealing none other than Riven himself. He stepped in slowly, his eyes dark and unreadable, his posture tense.

"Aria," he said quietly, his voice low and hesitant. "We need to talk."

Her heart raced at the sight of him, and for a moment, she considered walking out, escaping the tension that seemed to suffocate the room. But instead, she stood frozen, barely able to meet his gaze. The last time they spoke, things had felt unresolved. He had told her to stay away, but something about his words—about him—kept pulling her in.

"I don’t know what to say," Aria whispered, her voice barely audible. She wanted to scream, to ask him why he was being so distant, but all she could do was stand there, her emotions a whirlwind inside her chest.

Riven stepped closer, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I know I’ve been... pushing you away. But I can’t help it." His voice broke slightly, and Aria caught the rare vulnerability in his words.

"Then stop," she said, her voice trembling. "Stop pushing me away. I don’t want this tension between us anymore."

She didn’t know where the words were coming from. She didn’t know why she was saying this now, but the frustration, the confusion, the longing—everything inside her boiled to the surface.

Before she could even process it, Riven was suddenly closer, his hands reaching out to her, pulling her in. The world around them seemed to fade, the air thick with unsaid words. Aria didn’t resist. She closed the distance between them, the magnetism between them undeniable.

As if driven by some unspoken force, Aria whispered, "Please hold me, like I couldn’t breathe."

Before she could even comprehend what was happening, Riven picked her up effortlessly, holding her tightly against his chest. The gesture was so protective, so consuming, that she felt like she might melt into him.

In that instant, everything around them ceased to exist. His grip was firm, secure—like he was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. She was lost, vulnerable in his arms, and the air between them was thick with tension.

Aria’s pulse raced as she found herself kissing him, her lips pressing urgently against his jaw, her hands trailing down to his throat. She couldn’t stop herself—she was caught up in the heat of the moment, the way his body felt against hers, the way his presence made her feel both alive and grounded all at once.

His breath hitched at her touch, his body tensing slightly under her kisses, and when he moaned softly, it was as though something inside her snapped. That sound sent a rush of emotions surging through her, and she kissed him harder, deeper.

But then, just as suddenly, Aria froze. Her mind cleared, and she stumbled backward, her heart pounding in her chest as the reality of what she had just done hit her. What was she doing? She pulled away quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"I’m sorry," she choked out, her voice trembling with guilt. "You’re probably thinking I’m... trying to seduce you, like I’m some kind of bad girl. I got carried away. I—"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her hands covered her face as she tried to shield herself from the shame flooding her. Her thoughts were a mess, and all she could feel was the overwhelming sense that she had made a terrible mistake.

Panic surged through her, and she turned to run, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of the moment. But before she could reach the door, Riven's hand shot out, grabbing her waist and pulling her back into his arms.

"Aria, wait," he said urgently, his voice softer than she had ever heard it. His hands moved to her shoulders, gently rubbing them as if to calm her.

"No, you’re thinking wrong," he whispered, his voice filled with a strange tenderness. "You’re not a bad person. I don’t think that."

But Aria couldn’t hear him. She was crying uncontrollably now, the sobs wracking her body as she tried to pull away, desperate to escape the hurt, the confusion. She couldn’t stop herself, her emotions overwhelming her, and she felt utterly powerless in the face of it.

Just then, she heard the door open, and before she could even look up, Leo was there. His arms wrapped around her in an instant, pulling her into a tight hug as if shielding her from the storm inside her.

"Aria, hey, what’s going on?" Leo’s voice was filled with concern, but Aria couldn’t find the strength to answer him. She just clung to him, feeling the warmth of his embrace as she let herself be comforted, even if only for a moment.

Riven stood there, frozen, his gaze flickering between Aria and Leo. The tension in the room was suffocating. Leo looked at Riven, his brow furrowed, clearly confused by the scene he had walked into.

Aria didn’t care anymore. She just cried into Leo’s chest, allowing herself to be enveloped in his safety. Whatever had just happened between her and Riven, whatever the future held—right now, all she could do was hold on to the comfort she found in Leo’s arms.