The air silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Calvin's gaze was locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense. His presence filled the room, making the air feel heavier, more charged. My heart pounded, an uneven rhythm that I despised. I had to get out of here.
I swallowed hard and pushed back, but he mirrored the action, his expression growing dark.
"Calvin."
"Why is it important to me?" he repeated my earlier question, low and unflinching. "You already know the answer, Lily."
I took a harsh breath, shaking my head. "No, I don't. Because it shouldn't."
His jaw clenched, a muscle leaping in his cheek. "I see."
I expected him to struggle, to push, but he simply looked at me with an intensity that made me uneasy.
Then, as suddenly as he'd trapped me, he gave a cold laugh and stepped back. "You're right. It shouldn't."
