CHAPTER 304

ARIA’S POV

The drive back to Adam's residence feels endless, every mile stretching out as my anger festers. The adrenaline from the climb hasn’t worn off; instead, it has twisted into something darker, a simmering fury that only intensifies with each ignored call and unread message. How dare he try to take this from me? Rock climbing is mine, my escape, my sanctuary, and he has no right to interfere. I spent so long working up the courage to go back, to face those heights and conquer them again, and here he is, pulling me down with his incessant worry and suffocating concern.

By the time I reach the house, my hands are shaking, not from fear, but from the sheer force of the emotions I’ve been bottling up. I storm inside, barely registering the familiar surroundings as I make my way to Adam. When I see him, his face is flushed, his expression a mix of worry and something else—something that looks almost like betrayal. It’s as if he’s accusing me of something, as if he believes I’ve don