Panic filled her eyes as she struggled to breathe.

Raya barely had a flinching moment before her body turned ice-cold in Arian’s hold.

“Raya!”

Arian stood so abruptly that his chair toppled backward with a loud clang. Lowering himself to the ground as he caught her just before she hit.

Gerard rushed to their side, his breathing unsteady. His forehead wrinkled with worry.

Raya’s lips trembled. Her entire body was rigid.

Arian dropped to his knees, catching her limp form in his arms, his voice breaking with desperation.

“Stay with me!” he cried out loud.

Tears brimmed in his eyes as he pressed two fingers to her neck, desperately searching...