Chapter 4

The dressing-room door slammed behind us.

Shannon followed, eyes red, voice shaky. "Damien, I swear I didn't know those letters would show up. I don't know why Mia would do this to me..."

Damien let go of me and turned to steady her.

His face stayed calm.

His eyes didn't.

Once Shannon settled down, he looked at me.

"Apologize."

I stared at him. "What?"

Damien's face hardened.

"Shannon was the star tonight. You pulled that stunt during her performance and humiliated her in front of everyone.

"You owe her an apology."

My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

"Those letters were mine. I wrote them to you. And you kept them around so everyone could laugh at me."

Damien frowned.

"I kept them because I couldn't be bothered to throw them out.

"They turned it into a joke because they didn't know when to stop.

"But you stopped playing and left Shannon stranded onstage. That part was on you."

He said it like it was obvious.

Like my pain, my humiliation, and ten years of being the punchline meant less than one bad moment in Shannon's big night.

Shannon tugged lightly on his sleeve. "Forget it, Damien. Mia probably didn't mean it."

The more she defended me, the colder he got.

"No."

He looked at me like I meant nothing.

"I spoiled her too much."

My hands curled into fists.

"Damien Byford, have you ever once thought maybe you were the one in the wrong?"

His jaw tightened.

"My mistake was letting you get away with too much."

The dressing room went dead quiet.

Damien walked over and tipped my chin up with two fingers.

His touch was cool. Controlled.

"Mia," he said softly. "You loved me for ten years. That part was real.

"Right now, you just want me to feel bad for you. You want me to pick you in front of everyone, right?"

He looked almost tired.

Like I was just some dumb girl throwing a fit.

"But this isn't how you get what you want.

"Behave, and I'll give you what you've always wanted."

I looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Damien didn't answer right away.

Shannon tightened her grip on her glass.

Then he said, flat and calm, "You'll be my wife eventually."

Shannon's face went pale.

Damien kept going. "As long as you stop pulling stunts like this."

So that was his big offer.

Keep taking it.

Keep waiting.

Wait until he was done having fun, until Shannon was gone, until he finally remembered I existed.

I suddenly laughed.

Damien frowned. "What's so funny?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

I'd just finally realized how rotten loving him had become.

Taking that as surrender, Damien let go of me.

"If we're done here, go apologize to Shannon."

I looked over at her on the couch.

Triumph flashed in her eyes.

But I was tired.

Too tired to even hate her.

So I walked over and met her gaze.

"I'm sorry."

Shannon froze.

So did Damien.

I straightened. "I hope you two stay this perfect for each other forever."

Then I turned for the door.

Damien reached the handle first.

"Stop."

I didn't turn around.

He looked like he wanted to say something.

Then Shannon spoke, soft and shaky.

"Damien, I'm a little dizzy."

Whatever he was about to say disappeared.

He looked at her.

His hand slipped from the door.

I took my chance and walked straight out.

He didn't follow.

Of course he didn't.

He probably thought he'd put me in my place again.

For ten years, I'd always caved eventually.

Not this time.

I was done.

***

By the time the express train pulled in, it was already dark.

I hauled my suitcase aboard, shut off my phone, and took a window seat.

One by one, the city lights faded behind me.

I closed my eyes.

And never looked back.