#Chapter 35: New Beginnings

Aria’s POV The office buzzed around me, but the tension between Liam and me was almost suffocating. It had been days since our fight, and though I threw myself into my work, I couldn’t shake the lingering sense of regret. Every time I passed Liam in the hallway or sat across from him in meetings, it felt like there was a barrier between us, thick and impenetrable. He barely acknowledged me, which shouldn’t have bothered me as much as it did. I told myself I didn’t care—that his distance was a relief. But it wasn’t true. This morning’s team meeting wasn’t any different. I sat at the far end of the table, skimming through my notes, avoiding looking directly at him. Jackson was his usual jovial self, cracking jokes about the latest race, trying to break the ice, but even he seemed to notice the tension. I could feel his eyes darting between Liam and me, as if waiting for something to give. Liam didn’t say much, just nodded along to the discussion. He was checked out,