Chapter 4

Cary wasn't happy with my comeback, but he didn't argue. He just clammed up and stopped talking to me altogether.

I'd gotten used to his icy stares and silent treatment, so it didn't hit me too hard.

Simona figured we were just stressed out and needed a breather. She didn't make a fuss about it.

Instead, she kept herself busy in the kitchen, cooking up all kinds of tasty dishes to lift our spirits.

The morning we left for the military inspection, Cary came back from the garden with a single rose.

Simona's face lit up. "Well, look at that! The boy's finally getting romantic—picking flowers for you!"

I didn't have the heart to tell her the rose wasn't for me.

Holly was the one who had a thing for roses.

The second I saw Holly, she hauled off and smacked me right across the face.

"You're a snake," she hissed. "You stole Cary, and now you got Mrs. Fox to fire my parents!"

Holly's parents got canned?

Guess Simona was seriously ticked off this time.

But what did that have to do with me?

Holly didn't dare go toe-to-toe with her future mother-in-law, so she thought she could take it out on me?

Did she think I was some kind of doormat?

I raised my hand to hit her back, but Cary grabbed my wrist.

"Her folks are out of work, Wanda," he said. "They're having a rough time. Just let it slide, okay? If you're that pissed, take a swing at me instead. I can take a few hits."

I laughed, but it was more out of disbelief than anything.

Her family's struggling, so she gets to slap me around?

What, am I her personal punching bag?

I shot Cary a look. "Who are you to her, huh? You think you can just apologize for her? Take her hits like some kind of hero?"

That was when it clicked for him—we were engaged. As my fiancé, he was supposed to be in my corner. But he still didn't let go of my wrist.

"If it wasn't for that mess, we wouldn't even be engaged," he said. "My mom wouldn't have gone after her parents. Wannie, Holly's already hurting bad. Can't you just give her a break?"

Back in my previous life, when Cary and I were both at Lumora Military Academy, it was always the same old song and dance.

Whenever Holly and I got into it, Cary would pull this guilt trip, nudging me to back off.

He knew how much that mess got under my skin, but he'd bring it up anyway. To shield Holly, he'd twist the knife in my heart like it was nothing, like I didn't feel a thing.

And now, here he was, at it again. But I was done backing down.

I stared him down, peeling his fingers off my wrist one by one.

He freaked out, worried I'd make a scene and get Holly in hot water.

"Wannie, come on," he pleaded, practically whispering. "She didn't mean to hit you. She's just mad."

I sucked in a deep breath and cut him off. "How about I call the cops right now?"

Cary froze. He knew if I made that call, Holly could wave goodbye to her interview.

After a beat, he stepped aside.

I swung at Holly, putting my whole weight into it.

But at the last second, Cary couldn't let her take the hit.

He pushed her out of the way and took the slap himself.

Holly gasped. "Cary! Why'd you do that? She's got no business hitting you! I'm gonna make her pay!"

Cary held her back, his eyes red as he looked at me. "Happy now?"

The way they glared at me, all righteous and wounded, you'd think I was the bad guy here.

Screw it. Just twelve more days, and this whole mess would be done.

I could tough it out till then.