CHAPTER 197

ARIA’S POV

Back at home, the quietness of my apartment feels almost oppressive. I try to distract myself with mundane tasks, but Tony's face keeps intruding into my thoughts. The image of him cradling my cheek stays with me, stirring emotions I hadn't anticipated.

I find myself replaying our brief conversation at the red light. His words linger in the air, the unspoken tension between us hanging like a veil. A part of me wonders what might have happened if the traffic light hadn't changed, if we had lingered a moment longer in that charged atmosphere.

But reality asserts itself, reminding me of the boundaries between us. Tony is a model, someone whose life is far more glamorous and complicated than mine. I can't help but feel a pang of inadequacy, a sense that I don't belong in his world.

However, one thing is bugging me. Knowing Adam, he won’t punch someone without any reason. This is just not his style. As I lie in bed, I think about it long and hard, trying to make sense of what ha