Chapter 68

Aria's POV "Aiden..." I touched the delicate piano key pendant hanging at my neck, feeling strangely vulnerable under his intense gaze. "But why...?" Instead of answering my question, he moved closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Would you play something for me?" he asked, his voice low and intimate in the quiet room. The abrupt change of subject threw me off balance, but I nodded. "Of course. What would you like to hear?" "Traumerei," Aiden said. "Schumann's Dreaming." My fingers hesitated above the keys. Traumerei - one of the most romantic pieces in classical piano repertoire, written by Robert Schumann for his beloved Clara. It was essentially a musical love letter. When I didn't respond immediately, Aiden slipped the small velvet box into his pocket. "You don't want to play it?" "It's not that..." I studied his face, searching for some hint of his intentions. His expression remained characteristically impassive, giving nothing away. Perhaps I was overthinking this. Traumerei was