14| The Change

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CORRUPT ME

The music hit me first

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The music hit me first.

Too loud. Too normal.

Like nothing had just happened.

I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me with fingers that wouldn't stop trembling. My heartbeat was everywhere—too fast, too loud, like it was trying to escape my chest.

I didn't look back.

I couldn't.

Because if I did...
I knew I wouldn't leave.

I inhaled sharply, forcing air into my lungs as I walked straight into the crowd again. Lights, laughter, people moving like the world hadn't just tilted off its axis.

But I had.

God—I had.

My fingers curled into my palms, nails pressing into skin just to feel something real. Something that wasn't him.

His voice still lingered in my ears.
Low. Dangerous. Too close.

Only when I'm trying not to touch.

I shut my eyes for half a second.

No.
Not here.

"Hey! Where did you disappear?" Ahaan's voice cut through everything as he appeared in front of me.

I blinked, forcing my expression into something normal. Something unaffected.

"Nowhere," I said quickly. Too quickly. "Just needed some air."

His eyes narrowed slightly, scanning my face. "You okay? You look—"

"I'm fine," I cut him off, offering a small smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Stop overthinking."

He didn't look convinced. But before he could say anything else—

I felt it.

That shift in the air.

That presence.

Him.

I didn't turn.

I refused to turn.

But I knew.

Zade had walked out of that room.

And he was looking at me.

I could feel it like a touch I hadn't asked for.

My spine straightened. My chin lifted.

Ignore him.

The same way he ignored you.

I moved past Ahaan before he could question me further, heading toward the center of the floor where people were dancing again. If I stopped, if I stood still for even a second—I'd think.

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