chapter 36

16+The drive back to the mansion was quiet. Amaira kept her eyes on the road, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, while Scar Boss, now resting against the passenger seat, had fallen into a deep, alcohol-induced slumber. His breath was steady, but his body occasionally shifted, as though his subconscious was still aware of her presence.As they entered the mansion, she carefully helped him out of the car and supported his weight as they made their way upstairs. His steps were unsteady, and his murmurs incoherent, but his grip on her seemed oddly protective—like he needed her, even in his drunken haze.She managed to get him into his room and onto the bed, making sure to pull the blankets over him. She stood there for a moment, watching him sleep, the vulnerability he showed in his drunken state contrasting sharply with his usual imposing demeanor.But as the clock ticked on, her mind raced. The weight of the moment was almost suffocating. This man, the one she had been avoiding, the one who had ordered her around, the one who had forced her into this marriage—it all seemed so distant now. She saw the unguarded side of him, and despite herself, a strange warmth began to spread within her.He wasn’t just the Scar Boss. He was human. And so was she.Amaira shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts away. She had to leave. She had to do this, for her own peace of mind. Her emotions were already tangled up with him, and this moment—this fleeting, intoxicating moment—could not define her. She would not let it.But then, as if fate had other plans, Scar Boss stirred in the bed, his eyes barely open, locking with hers. His gaze was hazy, but there was something in it—a glint of something unfamiliar."Amaira…" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. "Don’t go."Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly moved to the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breath. "I have to go," she said, her voice almost a whisper.But he grabbed her wrist with surprising strength, pulling her back toward him. His touch was warm, and his presence, though intoxicated, felt intense, possessive."Stay," he whispered, his words slurring slightly, but the sincerity in his voice was unmistakable. "Just stay with me tonight."Amaira hesitated, feeling the pull of his warmth, his scent. He was so close, and her emotions were a storm she couldn’t control. She was so tired of running, tired of the silence between them, tired of the unspoken words that hung in the air."Scar Boss…" She looked down at him, her heart pounding. "You’re drunk. This isn’t…"But he silenced her with a kiss—a slow, desperate kiss that seemed to melt away the last of her resistance. His lips were soft against hers, his hands pulling her closer, urging her to stay, to let go of everything that kept her apart from him.And for a moment, she did. She let go of the doubts, the fears, the hesitation. She let herself sink into him, responding to the kiss, allowing it to consume her in ways she never expected.Before she knew it, the night had spiraled out of control. They were tangled together, both giving into the magnetic pull of desire, the tension that had been building between them for so long.**The Morning After**Amaira woke up early, the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a gentle glow across the room. She blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog in her mind. Her body ached, but it wasn’t the kind of pain she had expected—it was something entirely different.Her eyes darted to the side, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw Scar Boss sleeping next to her, his arm thrown carelessly across the bed. He looked so peaceful, vulnerable in a way she had never seen before.She lay there for a few moments, just staring at him, her mind racing. She didn’t know how it had happened, why it had happened, but she knew one thing for sure: things had changed between them.A sharp pang of guilt twisted inside her. She couldn’t stay. She shouldn’t stay. She couldn’t let herself get caught up in whatever this was, especially after everything they had been through.Amaira slowly sat up, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She grabbed her clothes from the chair nearby, slipping into them as quietly as possible. She glanced back at him one last time.He was still asleep, unaware of her departure.A bitter smile tugged at her lips.She had to leave.With a final glance, she walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing in the silent hallway. The mansion felt emptier than ever as she moved through it, heading for the front door.As she stepped outside, the cool morning air hit her face, but it did nothing to ease the turmoil inside her chest. She had just given in to the one person she had sworn to keep her distance from. And now, as she walked away from the mansion, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just walked away from something she would never be able to go back to.P