“She deserved it. You only care that I hit her, but don’t you want to know why? If it weren’t for-”


    “Enough!” Before I could finish, Liam’s hand cracked across my face.


    My cheek burned like fire, blood pooled at the corner of my mouth, and my ears rang like someone had struck a bell next to my head.


    Liam had clearly put his full strength behind that p.


    “Riley…”


    After hitting me, Liam seemed shocked by his own action.


    A few secondster, regret shed in his eyes, and he instinctively moved forward to check my injury.


    But the moment I sensed his intention, I reflexively stepped back.


    stared at him hard, refusing to let my tears fall.


    hat p had shattered any remaining feelings I had for him.


    iam froze in ce, his movement suspended.


    bey had been enjoying the sight of me getting pped.


    ut when she noticed the regret in Liam’s eyes, her scheming mind quickly hatched a n.


    Ugh…” Zoey doubled over, clutching her stomach with a pained groan.


    hat single sound of distress instantly reimed Liam’s attention.


    Liam…” Zoey’s voice was barely audible as her body conveniently copsed right into Liam’s arms.


    iam’s face filled with panic.


    Think about what you’ve done,” he snapped at me before scooping Zoey up and rushing toward the emergency room.


    What he didn’t see was how the supposedly unconscious woman in his arms turned her head back toward me, her lips curving into a smug smile as he silently mouthed a few words.


    You lose, Riley.”


    She was right.


    I had lost. Completely and utterly.


    But so what?


    From the moment I discovered Liam’s betrayal, I’d already decided I was done with him.


    Back home, I started packing.


    Important things went into my suitcase. Everything else went straight into the trash.


    Just as I was about to leave the ce I’d called home for three years, Liam returned.


    “Does your face still hurt?”


    “I’m sorry. I lost control back there.”


    “But no matter what, you shouldn’t have hit her.”


    Liam’s voice had returned to its usual gentle tone, his eyes full of concern yet somehow reproachful.


    As if I were the one who’d done something wrong.


    When he reached out to touch my swollen cheek, I pped his hand away.


    Iughed bitterly. “I see Zoey’s feeling better.”


    Why else would Liam have the time or inclination to worry about my injury?


    “Riley, how can you be so cold blooded? Whatever else, she’s still your half-sister,” Liam said with a disapproving frown.


    “I don’t have a sister,” I cut him off sharply before he could finish.


    I red at him, my chest heaving with anger.


    Liam knew damn well how much I hated Zoey and her mother.


    My fierce reaction only made Liam more frustrated: “I see you still haven’t recognized your mistake.”


    “Stay home and think about what you did. I won’t be back for a while. When you’re ready to grow up and apologize to Zoey, let me know.”


    “Don’t hold your breath,” I said, ice in my voice.


    “Unbelievable,” Liam muttered, mming the door hard enough to rattle the walls. <fn546d> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind</fn546d>