na's

le

oice came from the living room, unlike a

shoulder and hit the fl

y father. Jaw tight. Eyes blood

ouch. There was my mothe

uddenly fel

ngers

" I whi

u slept over at Hardin's place,"

My head lowered, puls

hat happened

e asking? Hardin said he h

uh

sked again, as if waiting f

rned damp.

uck my cheek-the first time in my lif

gry? Then it hit me. No. It couldn'

d under his breath. "What were you

, my chest

ew. B

ad

ed, grabbing my wrist and for

e screen. My s

. The intimate video of me and Har

ers and crashed onto the floor

t out? Who coul

he said, his voice breaking. "Just tell me

d in my mind. Silent sobs followe

pointed me, Elena." He sniffed,

, trembling with anger and disbelief. "He's my best fri

barely

idn'

burned my

rying to explain, but

a hand throu

h

. Distance at first, the

t went

lances. My mother swallowed;

our s

ily is di

in the same c

them

er will corru

violent waves. Stones slammed into our

an throug

we don't open it," my mother whisper

er. He's on his way,

t in before

it the door. T

side and spe

ved toward t

hed t

e. Don't go. I

spare me

s before you acted- if you re

d my han

he told my mother. "Sh

for th

ed around my wrist, dragg

as the door cl

_

loor, crushed. My mother knelt in front of me

a, my

My voic

ce you or Father," I said, clench

d me into

spered, but her arms tightened ar

ough I wasn't sur

wanted him to look at me. But I

_

my room, biting my nail

what was happening outside

my father? Why was

t even st

ndlessly on the b

nd Hardin's cousin-had

coming. I i

to him? He would be disappoint

are you? Why didn't you pick up? Don't do anything st

urred my

ch Hardin. I

nd grabbed a long black

ped in

d recognize

, the hinges creaking faintly a

footsteps. No

owded, so I followed the back way, brushing a

own a taxi

g lady?" The ta

" I replied in

ffed. "The one where the boss slept with

ed. Would this a

troy him, and I couldn

d stepped out-to be met with c

lse r

d recognize

porter's hand accidentally k

ng sto

crowd turn on me as the c

rter pulled

o you have to say about t

his female staff b

ather know

lank. No one s

destroy everything-Hard

loud. My breath ca

re, Miss

e nearly hi

move-back o

earched f

s swung open and th

meras seeme

he was. Ha

le, while I felt my

ntrolled, as if the chaos aroun

ras turn

what ha

vantage of your best

s, Mr.

smi

ves investors or my fathe

d tightly. What

m-firm, cutting th

y advantage? Elena