The door swung open violently, crashing against the wall. Maria, the housemaid, rushed in behind a woman Ariel had never seen before.

Ariel flinched, the spell shattering instantly.

Behind the intruder, Maria stood at the threshold, looking breathless. “Sir, I tried to—” the rest of her words got stuck in her throat as her gaze fell on the almost-kiss. Her eyes widened before she quickly spun on her heels and walked away, as if escaping the thick tension in the room.

The woman's chest heaved, her breathing unsteady, and her face was filled with urgency and… fear?

Johny’s body tensed, he straightened, his expression darkened. Clearly irritated.

The woman who...