The moment the door closed behind them, the silence in the hallway felt strange. The air between them shifted instantly. Whatever act Maximus had maintained inside vanished in a heartbeat.
Without hesitation, he tore his arm away from her grasp, as if her touch burned. His movements were rough, sudden. The disgust in his eyes was clear.
Elarliya froze for a moment, her hand left hanging in the air where he had brushed her off. The soft, elegant smile that had lingered on her lips faltered, then stiffened completely. For a brief second, hurt flickering through her eyes before she quickly masked it behind a bitter smile.
"So," she said quietly, her voice trembling but laced with sarcasm, "Maximus, don't act like just touching me disgusts you."
Her words cut through the still air, soft but sharp. "You weren't that disgusted when you impregnated me."
