140.

Riya's heart raced with a sense of urgency as she scoured the room, her eyes darting across the familiar surroundings. She located the door that led to their room and approached it swiftly, her hand trembling slightly as she raised it to knock. With a firm rap of her knuckles against the door, she anxiously waited for a response.

After a brief pause that seemed to stretch into eternity, the door swung open, revealing Damon on the other side. His haggard appearance spoke volumes about the exhaustion he carried. Clad in a plain white shirt and worn grey track pants, his disheveled hair seemed to mirror the turmoil within him, as if he had been raking his fingers through it since the early hours of the morning.

Damon's voice carried a weariness that resonated deeply as he spoke, frustration lacing his words. "What is it, Riya? I specifically asked for some time alone. Please," he pleaded wearily, the weight of his exasperation palpable in the air. Riya couldn't help but feel a pang of gu