Revenge is Sweet
amid cries of laughter.
Estel's head jolted back as Michael slapped her, ending her fit of uncontrollable laughing. She gazed at him like a kid who had been unfairly punished. Michael was embarrassed by how hard he'd slapped her, admitting that his motivation was to get revenge for past wrongs rather than to calm her agitation.
"I'm sorry," he murmured sternly, rising from the chaise longue to tower over her like a shadowy angel of judgment. He turned away from her and began walking out the door, saying, "I shouldn't have hit you so hard."