Page 183 of Kiss the Villain

I’m sorry, Grandpa.

The laughter draws my attention, and I stare at the flicker of light. Projected images dance across the wall, crude and distorted at first, but then clearer.

That’s when I see them.

Kayden andher. Cassandra.

It’s a loop of videos. The first one is homemade, where she’s laughing, her voice soft as she films Kayden asleep, his face relaxed.

“Darling, wake up.” The camera zooms in on his lips as he stirs, and he smiles at her, a lazy, affectionate grin that’s all for her.

Onlyher.

My breath catches and I stand up, ignoring the throbbing pain in my chest, stomach, and face as my feet carry me closer to the wall as if I’m floating on air.

I can’t breathe.

My inhales are small wheezes, like I’m choking on the air.

But I keep watching. Video upon video of him hugging her at an event, her kissing him in public, both of them swaying to music.

Things I never had.

Willneverhave.

The videos go on and on and on, and I lift my hand to scratch her, but the straitjacket restricts me.

Binding me.

Forcing me to watch without acting.

Each image stabs me worse than a knife, tearing me apart.

And I can’t look away.

Or breathe.

I’m drowning in the rawness of their intimacy, the connection he never had with me.

Cassandra is the normal woman that fits him, and it’s something I’ll never be.

Normal. Or a woman.

Or a fit for him.

Because he loves her, and I’m only a vessel for revenge.

The laughter echoes again—this time, it’s not coming from the video, but from me.

I can’t stop the hollow sound as I hit my head against her. Cassandra. And the wall.

The louder she laughs, the harder I hit.

Again.

Andagain.

Until my vision is red, blood dripping down my lashes, over my nose, and into my mouth, but she won’t stop laughing.

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