Chapter 296

Aria's POV As I sat perched on top of the cemetery wall, something about this moment felt strangely familiar. The moonlight, the darkness, even the way Aiden stood below with his arms outstretched—it triggered something deep in my memory that I couldn't quite place. "Having second thoughts?" Aiden called up, a hint of teasing in his voice. I snapped back to reality and positioned myself at the edge. Without overthinking it, I pushed off and let myself fall into his waiting arms. The sensation of falling was brief—his strong arms caught me effortlessly, securing me against his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne—sandalwood with subtle hints of cedar—enveloped me immediately. I found myself staring up at his face, studying the sharp angles illuminated by moonlight. A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over me. "Aiden," I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, "have we met before? Before all this, I mean?" I watched as his eyelashes fluttered slightly—a tiny reaction most people woul