Chapter 130

• The weight of the silence between us was thick and suffocating. I just stared at Vivian, my expression unreadable, but I knew something had shifted in me. The woman I once admired for her strength, her drive now she felt distant. Almost cold.
• Vivian’s chest visibly tightened. “Adrian,” she said, forcing her voice through whatever pain was coursing through her body. “You have to believe me. Yes, they hurt me, but they didn’t... they didn’t violate me. I’m telling you the truth. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and ask them yourself.”
• My eyes darkened, but I didn’t answer right away. The silence between us stretched unbearably long, and a chill crawled up my spine. When I finally spoke, my voice came out low, bitter.