Chapter 78

• AT OODS
• Ayana continued after a long monet of deadly stares and screaming silence, “To me, they are insults, and I won’t entertain you controlling me or disrespecting me.” She took a step closer, sealing the tiny gap that existed between them, her unnerving gaze not leaving his. She then added, her voice raw, low, and stern, “Lyana is not going to that school, and that is final. I am also going to work in that kiosk, and that too is final! And lastly, you are going to stop trying to control me. Period! Are we clear?”
• His eyes darted in hers for a long moment, perhaps trying to gauge the intensity of her anger or whether he had a chance to change her mind. Then he finally spoke, refusing to bow. "As you wish," he conceded reluctantly, his voice tight with emotion. "But have you thought about where you are going to enroll her? Your daughter is already so late for school, and she deserves the best, which is what I was offering."