Chapter 19 The Truth

• The day goes by in a blur. Bella can't seem to focus on any of her classes, not when her mind is a jumbled mess. She flops badly in her dance classes, even more than usual, and the displeased look the teacher gives her is enough to make her want to crawl into a hole and die.
• But persist she did, urgently wanting to get this awful day done and over with. After leaving the dance studio, she finds a spot under a shady tree to sit. She scrolls through her phone but only sees text messages from Vaughn and her parents, who are still convinced they can get her to return to Vaughn's mansion in New York to keep him company. Bella thinks she'd rather crawl into the deepest part of hell than return to that place, which brings back so many torturous memories.
• She replies to Vaughn's messages to avoid appearing suspicious. She ignores her parents, not wanting to indulge them further.