Zina's POV
I pushed the door open and practically sprinted out of the room, my heels clicking loudly against the tiled floor. My chest felt tight, and my head was spinning from everything Jared had said and done. Who did he think he was? Showing up out of nowhere, acting like he still had a claim over me.
I wiped the back of my hand across my face, realizing tears were slipping down my cheeks. I hated that he could still get to me like this. It wasn't fair. I didn't even know who I was anymore, let alone how to handle him.
The hallway was dimly lit, the faint glow from the chandeliers above making everything feel surreal. My legs carried me out into the garden before I even realized where I was going. The cool night air hit me, and I gasped like I hadn't been breathing properly for hours.
I sank down onto a stone bench near a fountain, letting the soft trickling of water try to calm me. It wasn't working.
