Chapter 5

The blood-stained plastic shards I spat out felt like a slap—one that landed squarely across every face in the room.

Charlotte shrieked and stumbled back. Edward immediately shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, murmuring to calm her down. Ryan and Adrian rushed toward her too—one handing her tissues, the other pouring her water.

And I—the one who'd just gone to such extremes to hurt myself—was left forgotten in the corner.

Just then, the door swung open again. A man stepped in wearing a deep-blue captain's uniform, four gold stripes gleaming on his shoulders. He was…