His Toxic Love, Her Escape

t suffocatingly so. He brought me breakfast in bed, bought me a new dress,

tered on Saturday morning by a loud,

t out of bed. I was still in one of Liam's old t-sh

up." Her voice was

droom. Liam was still asleep. I quickly pulled on a pair of sweatp

Next to her was Brittany Lewis, whose sneer was a permanent fixture on her face.

ia asked, not bother

g," I said, trying

Can you get us some coffee, please?

walking into the apartment like they owned it. Which,

of defiance. "I

o me with a look of feigned sympathy. "Oh, honey

te sofa. I wanted to scream, to throw them out. But I knew it would just make thing

m the bedroom, rubbing his

e saw Sophia. "Soph! W

ia a warm hug and a kiss on the chee

ce sweet as honey. "We're going to that new b

re was taking forever to answer the door,"

they were here?" Liam asked,

at they' d treated me like dirt? That he w

my stomach, sharper this time. I pressed a hand t

I mumbled. "I think

ing her eyes. "It's the biggest social event of th

wouldn't want people to think L

ed at Liam, pleading with my

on cold. "Get dressed, Chloe.

iam's friends. They spoke a language of inside jokes and shared histo

d toward me. "Chloe, you haven't touched yo

champagne flu

he cramps were getting worse, a constant,

y, drawing the attention of the who

ation. I looked to Liam for help, for any sign of support. He just stare

Sophia insisted, her voice dripping wit

d, malicious gleam in their eyes. They wer

His eyes were cold, empt

lay along, to swallow my pain a

over me. I stood up abruptly, my

, my voice shaking. "I n

l on the floor as a fresh wave of cramps wracked my body. I could hear their laughter from the other side