Page 134 of Wreckage

She let out a strangled sob.

“No, you don’t mean that!” she wailed, gripping his arm. “You’vebeen through so much! You’re not thinking clearly! You just need time! You’re just traumatized?—”

Troy gently untangled himself from her grip, his expression resigned. He put some space between them.

“I’ve had time,” he said softly. “And I’m not the same guy I was before. You deserve better than this. Better than me. I’m not going to use trauma as an excuse. I’ve been feeling this way for a while now. We’re done, Amanda. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head violently, her nails digging into her palms. “No! I don’t want better! I want you!” she screamed.

Troy’s eyes darkened as muscle worked along his jaw.

“Amanda, it’s over,” he said. “I’m sorry. You need to go.”

Amanda stared at him. Suddenly, her expression twisted into something cruel. Something I’d seen on her face whenever she was working on hurting some innocent person who had gotten in her way.

Her entire body trembled with anger.

“This is abouther, isn’t it?” she sneered, voice dripping with venom.

Troy tensed. I steeled myself. If she were talking about Elena, I’d throw her ass out myself.

Amanda’s lips curled into a bitter snarl. “It’s that bitch Elena,” she spat. “Isn’t it?”

I got to my feet immediately and took a step forward, ready to shut this shit down, but before I could say anything, Troy moved between us, sensing my incoming meltdown.

“I bet you were fucking her on that mountain, weren’t you? Messed up in the head, losing your mind, clinging to the firstslutthat spread her legs for you?”

That was it. I took another step forward, my fists clenching. I loved Troy, but I’d shove him aside and take this bitch out if I had to.

Before I could throw her out myself, Troy exploded.

“I’m in love with Elena! Is that what you wanted to fucking hear? Will it make this easier for you? Huh? To know I want my fucking little sister, and she’s all I’ve thought about whenever I’ve been with you? Does that make it easier to hear?” He roared at her, his face red.

Amanda stilled, eyes wide with shock. Her mouth opened and closed, her entire body trembling.

Troy’s chest heaved, his fists clenched.

“Yeah,” he continued. “I love her. I made love to her on that mountain. I made her mine. She’s the one I want. Not you. Not anymore.”

Amanda’s face crumbled.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, you don’t mean that.”

“I do,” he said softly. “I love Elena.”

Silence stretched between them before Amanda let out a guttural scream of frustration.

She shoved him hard in the chest.

“You’re a fucking asshole!” she shrieked. “A piece of shit, cheating ASSHOLE! I’m going to fucking make you famous for being such a piece of shit! Everyone is going to know how youfucked your sister. Disgusting! You fucking disgust me!”

Troy didn’t flinch.

She ripped off her engagement ring and threw it at him.

“Go to hell,” she hissed before storming out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

Silence descended around us.

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