Chapter 140

• CHAPTER 140: THE HEAVY CROWN
• The moment they step back into the apartment, the tension that had been holding her upright finally snaps. Her shoulders sag, her body leans slightly to the side, and she exhales in a long, barely audible sigh. She’s completely exhausted—tired as hell—and it shows in every sluggish movement as she kicks off her shoes and drags her feet across the polished floor.
• Without saying a word, he steps aside and allows her to pass, his hand subtly brushing her lower back as if to guide her gently toward her room. There’s a look in his eyes—something unreadable—caught between worry and something much darker. He watches her disappear into the bedroom, the door closing softly behind her, and the silence that follows is a weight pressing against his chest.