unsettled me more than Chloe' s open hostility. It was a peek into the depths of his manipulative mind.

?" Sarah asked, her

c," I whispered, not

tightened. "T

aying on his lips. He then stood up, pulling Chloe with him. They left the restaurant without a bac

moment I landed, I stepped out into the cool night. I just wanted to go home, loc

a sleek black car pulled up beside me. The

ng with fake concern. "It's late. Liam wou

I said, tu

he insisted. "Get in. I

uld just create a scene. Exhausted, I gave in, opening the ba

. "That was quite a show you put

refusing to engage. "Ju

ld him you loved limoncello. He' s so sweet, he just wants to make you happy, even no

connection. I didn't correct her. I just let h

w mirror. "Every part of him. The way he sleeps, the way he laughs. It

I could get out of the car. We were on a qu

e swerved the

pavement. I was thrown against the door as she yanked the wheel, se

a wild, triumphant

ting metal. My head slammed against the window, and a sharp,

antic voices, the smell of gasoline. I felt myself being lifted onto a st

voice, high-pitched and hysterical. "Help

oice. Liam' s. He must

ay?" he cried, his voice

s. A paramedic leaned over me. "Ma'am, can you hear me? We need to get yo

st my stretcher, his eyes fixed only on Chloe. He kne

d, cradling her wrist

" a paramedic said to her. "It

injury is more severe. We need to go now. Her han

ugh the pain. My ability to work, to create, to b

o whisper, my voice

here was no concern in them. Only annoyance. He loo

e his

e paramedics, pointing at Chloe. "She's

over me. He had prioritized her minor injury over the potential ruin of my career and my future.