Chapter42:

_Leah's POV_ I lay in bed, my body tense, waiting for Tariq to fall asleep. Every breath I took was shallow, my heart pounding against my ribs like it might give me away. Beside me, I could hear Tariq’s breathing slow, becoming steady and deep, signaling that he had finally drifted into sleep. Carefully, I shifted in bed. I couldn’t afford to wake him, not now. My eyes flicked to his phone, resting on the nightstand by his side. My pulse quickened as I stretched out a trembling hand, fingers hovering over the device for a moment before I finally picked it up. It was warm from being near him. Holding my breath, I slid out of bed, moving as quietly as I could. The room felt too quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of the sheets. My heartbeat seemed too loud, like it might betray me. But Tariq remained still, his form unmoving under the blankets. I tiptoed toward the bathroom, closing the door behind me as gently as possible. Once inside, I locked it, my back pressing against the cold wo