Chapter 53

• Leila
• I sat there, my face burning, my legs trembling. What the hell? I thought. What kind of game is he playing? In front of his family, in front of mine—he was treating me like a toy, something to be played with when he got bored. I wanted to scream, to stand up and throw my wine in his face, but I stayed seated. I kept my smile intact.
• The rest of the dinner passed in a blur. Lucas kept up his act—refilling my glass, passing me rolls, whispering jokes that made me want to both laugh and slap him. By the time dessert was served, I was exhausted.