Page 57 of Wicked Scandal

CatEyes: You, too. I emailed the speech back. Good night.

A strange feeling washes over me, as if I’m being watched, and when I look up from my phone, I see a pair of dark eyes glaring at me in the doorway.

“Troy,” I gasp as I slam my phone over on the nightstand. “I thought you were asleep.”

I have no idea how long he’s been standing there but the look on his face tells me he’s not happy with what he just witnessed. He steps into the room and closes the door without a word, so I spit out the first excuse I can come up with.

“I was just scrolling through some funny videos before I fell asleep.”

A devious grin plays on his lips, one that sends shivers down my spine. “Those videos make you smile like that?”

I gulp, scooting up farther on the bed until my back is straight against the headboard. “One of the videos was sweet and funny so maybe that’s why it was a strange smile?” My mouth twists in a grin, but I’m hoping my eyes don’t betray me with their wide, panicked stare.

“Is that so?” He tsks, making his way over to the bed. He sits down right beside me, legs dangling off the side as he tips his chin. “Show me.”

I put my hand on my phone, my heart ready to flee from my chest. “I already closed out of the app. In fact, I was just about to shut off the light and go to sleep.”

Suddenly, Troy snatches my phone before he sends it flying across the room like a Frisbee. I don’t even have time to react to his outburst when his hand wraps around my throat. He squeezes so hard I feel the air leaving my lungs, but I’m unable to get any more back in.

“Troy, please,” I beg with the little breath I have left.

“Please, what?” His face contorts into a fit of rage. “Believe your lies? Let you go to sleep?” Raising his voice, he jerks my neck upward, until I’m forced to look into his eyes. “How about you tell me the goddamn truth, Catherine!” He squeezes so hard I can’t even swallow.

I open my mouth to speak, to convince him I’m not lying, but nothing comes out. White spots dance around my vision, blurring the room around me.

This is it. This is where Troy finally kills me.

My ears feel full as my eyes begin to water. I don’t even realize when they close, but soon everything fades to black.

For a second, there is nothing. No fighting, no pain, no worry. I feel weightless—like I’m on a cloud. Maybe this is what it’s like to go to heaven?

I try to look around but everything is dark. Where is the white light everyone talks about?

When my body starts to come back to me, I feel faint kisses on my face. I want to smile, but I feel numb and can’t quite figure out why.

A smile finally parts my lips because my first thought is Wilder. Then I hear Troy’s voice.

“Wake up, Catherine.” He kisses my cheek again while shaking my body. “Please. I’m so sorry, honey.”

My eyes open fully as I gasp for air, a coughing fit assaulting my lungs as tears fall from my eyes. My ears pop like I was underwater. My head aches and I feel dizzy as my reality slams into me with the force of a freight train.

Troy cries out in relief as he throws his arms around me while I struggle to even move my body. I don’t want him touching me.

The second I see his face, all my strength returns. In a swift motion, I shove my hands to his chest, pushing him off me.

I can’t contain my rage, the fear clawing inside me so sharply it hurts. I need to get away from this man.

“I hate you!” I scream at the top of my lungs, feeling the words scratch my throat as they come out.

He goes flying to the end of the bed and I use this opportunity to get up. Feeling off-balance, I grab my dresser to steady myself, keeping an eye on Troy.

I see him coming toward me out of the corner of my eye, the waterworks continuing because that’s what he does. He tries to play the victim when he almost killed me.

I hold up a hand, still bracing myself on the dresser. “Don’t!” I grit out, causing him to freeze because I never stand my ground like this. “Don’t you dare come near me.”

This was a first. Troy has used my body as his punching bag for years, but he’s never knocked me out, or choked me unconscious. He leaves bruises, but never anything like this.

He holds up both of his weaponized hands as if to surrender. “Don’t do this, Catherine. It was an accident.”

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