Only Aiden knew how much her hesitation was killing him.
She was withdrawing from him —and he would give up anything to stop that from happening.
So, when she stopped him from helping her, he didn't insist. He stepped back, ready to give her the space she seemed to need.
But what he didn't realize … was that she wasn't withdrawing from him.
She was retreating from the situation, acting out of fear.
And then —her arms wrapped from behind, making his heart skip a beat.
He froze —not just in place, but in time. Her touch, her hold, stopped everything.
"Did I disappoint you as well?" her voice soft and aching.
The words cut through him. They snapped him out of his stillness, making him realize just how deep her fear ran.
Taking her hands, he turned to face her, looking at her. The tears were no longer just welling in her eyes —they were now rolling down her cheeks, making her look lost … defeated.
