Chapter 171
Memories keep flashing through my head, all the sleepovers we had, the night phone calls.
And now every single one of those memories feels poisoned.
“Do you have any idea how messed up that is?” I ask him.
Zane watches me carefully.
“I had my reasons p>
“Don’t p>
The word comes out like a warning but he keeps going anyway.
“You don’t understand the situation back then p>
That does it, I laugh again but there’s nothing funny about it.
“Oh I understand it perfectly p>
My voice trembles slightly now.
“You wanted information about my family p>
He says nothing but silence says enough.
“So you used someone I trusted to get it p>
“Elaine p>
“I said shut up p>
The shout echoing through the dining room.
My chest hurts now, not just from yelling… from everything.
“I have endured everything you’ve thrown at me since this marriage started,” I say, my voice shaking.
“Everything p>
My fingers curl tightly into fists.
“Your attitude, your stupid temper and your stupid revenge against my brother p>
My throat feels tight.
“I tolerated it p>
Zane’s expression shifts slightly but I keep going.
“I told myself it was part of the deal, that it would get better eventually p>
I shake my head slowly.
“But this p>
My chest rises and falls heavily.
“This is the height of it p>
The room goes quiet again as Zane is still watching me but I can see something shifting behind his eyes now…Something calculating because for the first time since this started He’s realizing just how badly he’s screwed this up.
My chest is rising and falling hard, like I’ve just run a mile. My hands are still shaking at my sides, the anger hasn’t burned out of me yet. It’s still there, sitting hot and heavy under my skin.
Claire is leaning against the dining table, one hand pressed to her scratched arm, breathing unevenly.
And then Claire says p>
“Oh my gosh get over it p>
The words sound so casually that for a second I’m not sure I heard her right.
My head turns slowly toward her.
“What?
Claire pushes herself away from the table and straightens. Her face is still blotchy from crying, but something ugly has crept back into her expression now.
Annoyance.
“You heard me,” she says.
“You’re acting like you’re the victim here p>
My eyes narrow at her.
“Excuse me p>
Claire scoffs under her breath.
“You weren’t the one who got used p>
For a second I just stare at her, trying to process the sheer audacity of what she just said.
“You’re serious right now p>
Claire gestures toward Zane with a bitter little laugh.
“He used me for years p>
My hands slowly curl into fists again.
“And then he threw me away p>
Her voice rises.
“So forgive me if I don’t feel too bad that our little friendship turned out to be fake p>
How did I not see this bitch for who she was all these years…something in my chest snaps again.
“You fucking bitch p>
The words rip out of my mouth before I can stop them and Claire lifts her chin like she’s daring me to do something about it And that’s exactly what I try to do.
I move toward her again, my body is already coiled with anger and the moment she opens her mouth again p>
“Elaine, you p>
I lunge at her I don’t get far, a pair of arms suddenly grab me again from behind.
My body jerks to a stop.
Zane.
“Let go of me!” I shout instantly… my rage exploding all over again.
“Don’t you fucking touch me p>
I start thrashing immediately, trying to rip myself free from him, my elbows shoving him backward.
My hands claw at his arms.
“Get your hands off me p>
His grip tightens slightly.
“El p>
“I said don’t touch me p>
I twist violently in his hold, trying to break free so I can get back to Claire.
My eyes are still locked on her.
“You think you can say that and just stand there p>
Claire actually takes a step back now, maybe she’s finally realizing I’m not bluffing.
But Zane isn’t letting me go, his arms stay locked around me while I struggle.
“Stop this,” he says sharply.
“Stop p>
I almost laugh.
“You think I’m done with her p>
I shove backward again, trying to break his hold.
“Let me go p>
My voice is getting hoarse now.
“Let me fucking go p>
I try to twist sideways to duck out of his grip but he’s stronger and the harder I fight, the tighter his arms seem to get.
“Elaine,” he says again, his voice lower now.
“Enough p>
“Don’t you dare tell me enough p>
My hands slam against his arms again.
“You started all of this p>
My chest is heaving so hard it hurts.
Claire is watching from across the room now, her expression tight, but I barely see her now, all I can feel is Zane’s arms around me and it makes my skin crawl.
“Let me go!” I shout again.
I shove backward one more time.
“Don’t fucking touch me again p>
And then Another voice cuts through the chaos.
“El p>
The sound freezes me mid-struggle, because it isn’t Zane.
It’s familiar and calmer.
“Hey, hey “
My body stills slowly as my head turns and that’s when I see him standing a few feet away.
Aaron.
He must have come in during the shouting and I hadn’t even noticed.
His eyes move between me and Zane’s grip on my arms, then back to my face.
“Easy,” he says quietlt, likr I’m a dog he’s trying to calm
“Just breathe p>
Something about hearing his voice instead of Zane’s does something strange to my chest and the fight drains out of my muscles all at onc
My breathing becomes uneven as Aaron takes a slow step closer.
“It’s okay,” he says gently.
Those two simple words hit something inside me that I didn’t even realize was barely holding together and my lips tremble suddenly.
I hate that he can see it I hate that anyone can see it.