y raised her voice, making sure her wor

, though her eyes were locked on me. "He's like a lost little pupp

iends

ake regret. "For his own good, you know? He was becoming obsessed.

me to react. She wanted to see the pain in my eyes. She wanted me to get up, to storm over,

ce, the desperate pleading in my voice as I begged her to stop. I had followed her out of the party, apologizing for a crime I hadn't committed, just to win back her fa

it for her

ght was

p a small program from the table and started to read it, as if she wasn't even there

erence was a slap in the face, a rejection of the power she thought she held o

nds. I saw her take a step toward my table out of

m's hand was

, his voice soft and placating. "He'

me too far in a public place filled with my father's associates might not be the wisest move. He had gotten what

ween her desire to punish

-" she

ittle pout. "For me? I just want to have

showy kiss meant to be both a distr

ly forgotten. She allowed him to lead her away

were a vortex of drama and toxicity, and for the first time, I was on th