I ran.
As my mind circled the mess of information I’d just overhead, I went toSparringand waited for Vivian to arrive. I had every intention of calling her out.
But as I stretched and regained control of my emotions, I locked up myResting Skeptic Face.
Instead of revealing my move, I watched her, thinking through how she played into things with Max. The idea of her being his true choice this whole time, I couldn’t believe that.
Irefusedto believe it.
He’d gone to the Valencourts and made a deal, one that involved her. Vivian had gone along with it because it got her what she wanted. But then Max had changed his mind. He hadn’t wanted to go through with it.
Now, her parents were forcing the issue, and she was either complicit or standing by while it happened.
He’d said no. Told her he didn’t want it. Told all of them.
No one listened.
As much as I wanted to call her out, the words wouldn’t come. I wanted to talk to Max before I reacted, especially in front of Vivian. Fear that I might be wrong persisted, but fear that I was right kept the words at bay.
Because if I made things worse by saying something, I’d just be another pawn she manipulated on the board.
Another means they used to control him.
That thought trapped my outrage inside my throat.
“Are you okay?”
I snapped my gaze in her direction.
She stared at my side, where I clutched the spot Elaine had punched me while I breathed through my burst of anxiety.
Eyes narrowing, I said nothing. If she thought she could get in my head by being nice, I’d prove her wrong.
I’d do exactly what she’d done to me and refuse to react.
When she entered the ring, I stared straight at her. Impassive. Focused.
We circled each other, like Paul had scrutinized me during mySuccessionlesson. As if we were sizing up the other soldier’s worthiness before going into battle.
We both got a few shots in, but no solid punches. Neither of us even tried to land one hard enough to do actual damage.
I wanted to, but I’d locked up my emotions tight enough to keep my head.
Almost made it through the whole lesson, too.
When Josh called time, we exited the ring. While Vivian stopped to discuss a few last things with Josh, I breezed past Brad and gathered my things, hellbent on getting out there.
Vivian came up beside me and started packing her stuff.
She eyed where I rubbed my side and shook her head.
“What?”
Her brow furrowed, and she almost didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t help herself. “You drop your arm right before you punch. It gives away that you’re about to do it.”
Even though her tone held no malice, Vivian having the audacity to chime in with feigned helpfulness snapped my self-control like a toothpick.
I turned to face her. “Why offer that friendly advice, V?”
