Chapter 3

The senior trip was the final chapter of high school.

I thought I could use it as a chance to cut ties with Dominic for good.

I was naive.

On the bus to the coastal resort, Dominic ignored the assigned seating and dropped into the spot next to me.

He stuck to me like a shadow, forbidding any boy from coming within three feet.

A friendly classmate from another section came over to chat, and Dominic snarled a single "Get lost" that sent him scurrying.

I'd had enough.

"Dominic, could you stop being so childish?"

He pulled out one earbud and lounged against the headrest.

"Nope."

"I'm doing you a favor — weeding out the trash."

I was too furious to speak.

At the hotel, after rooms were assigned and free time began, Sophie slipped me a note.

"Ellie, Lucas is down on the beach. This is your last chance! Go say goodbye — don't leave yourself with regrets!"

I clutched the slip of paper, my palms slick with sweat.

I was torn inside.

Go, or don't go?

If I went and Dominic found out, there'd be another scene.

If I didn't go, I might never get the chance to say a single real word to Lucas.

In the end, I made my decision.

I changed into a dress, planning to slip out while Dominic wasn't around.

But the moment I opened the door, I collided with a solid wall of chest.

Dominic stood in the doorway with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, hair still dripping, his expression dark as a storm.

"Going somewhere?"

"I... I was just going down to grab something." My voice came out too high, too guilty.

"Dressed like that, to grab something?"

His eyes swept over my new dress, then he let out a cold laugh.

"Is it something you're grabbing, or someone you're meeting?"

He dragged me back into the room and kicked the door shut behind him.

He pulled me back into my room and threw me onto the bed, then pinned me down, his eyes blazing red.

"You really like him that much?"

"Right in front of me, you can't wait to run to him?"

His strength was terrifying. I thrashed and fought, but I was a fish pinned to a cutting board.

"Dominic Blackwood, let go of me! We've graduated! This farce is over!"

My words detonated something inside him.

"Over?"

He laughed — a crazed, broken sound — then stood up, and I heard the door slam with savage force.

"I told you — unless I'm dead, this is never over."

The memory of his unhinged expression unleashed every ounce of fear, fury, and grief I'd been holding back.

He'd finally pushed me past my limit.

I crawled off the bed, stormed to the door, and pounded on it with both fists.

Through the door, I screamed myself hoarse.

"Dominic Blackwood, you're insane!"

"I have never liked you!"

"The person I like is Lucas Sterling! It's always been him!"

"He was the one I was trying to confess to that night! Not you!"

On the other side of the door — dead silence.

A long, long time passed. So long I thought he'd left.

Then I heard it — the sound of a wounded animal, a guttural growl of pain pressed down to its absolute limit.

My heart plummeted.

BANG.

The hotel room door burst inward, kicked clean off its hinges.

Wood splinters flew.

Dominic stood in the doorway, eyes bloodshot, and walked toward me step by step, his towering frame radiating apocalyptic fury.

His voice was shredded raw, as though dragged across sandpaper.

"Say that again. Who do you like?"