Chapter 4

I stared at the words. And suddenly, I laughed.

Everything he'd done—every step—was to break me down until I surrendered.

I typed slowly, deliberately: [Alexander, do you really think I have nothing besides you?]

The phone buzzed almost instantly. He replied: [Don't you?]

He was so casually dismissive, like I didn't matter at all, and it was humiliating.

Something inside me cracked so loudly I could almost hear it.

I took a long breath, deleted his number, and blocked him.

Then I looked out the window.

Was that what you think of me, Alexander?

I had nothing without you?

Fine.…