eigh

harp, laced with a fury she didn' t bother to hide. "Just a little charity case they keep ar

ery way that matters," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "And you, Fion

hy red. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but

rrowed from whatever business

agic trick. The rage vanished, replaced by a mask of trembling vulner

her face in his chest. "It was awf

a profound sense of disgust. I turned to walk away, to g

llei

t yet, but it was weighted with a confusion tha

she sobbed. "What' s going on? Fiona' s re

xpecting an explan

in his shirt, but she lifted her head just enough for our eyes to meet. H

rough my veins. He wasn

She threatened me. She told me I shoul

ying for a flicker of u

t sound like Fiona at all. She' s just... a little insecure. She' s not

poison, now delivered by the one person

arely a whisper. "We' re a fami

patience clearly wearing thin. "She' s just trying

me with my calculus homework, now defending a woman he barely knew over me. Th

ke he' d

anymore. I couldn' t look at the triumphant smirk on Fiona

the grand, curving staircase felt like a mile. I didn' t

t a cold, heavy lump in my chest. The phone on m

girlfriend? D

ped my lips. I type

mo

ne started ringin

voice demanded, no prea

pers of rumors, the condescending offer to find me an ap

e cracking. "He defended her. He t

e on the other end of the

tring of curses that followed was both creative and cathartic. "And Brock? What

smile. "She' s v

ows! She sounds like a venomous snake! A freeloader? Telling you to move out? She' s kn

ce, so pure and undiluted, mad

d, trying to find an excuse for

tuation. This is a five-alarm fire. This woman sees you as a threat, and she w

ng, shaky brea

sunderstanding evaporated, leaving behind a cold, hard certainty. Fiona was

-