Page 57 of Vow to Hate You

“Damian,” Talie snapped, pulling me out of my head. “What are you doing here?”

I cleared my throat. “We have breakfast plans I forgot about. Family obligation.”

“What?” Her frown grew. “With who?”

“My parents.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. I did have breakfast plans with my parents, even though I wasn’t going to make Talie go. But the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. She crossed her arms, staring at me defiantly.

“I’m spending the day with Char tomorrow,” she ground out.

I blew out a breath. “I need to talk to you—alone. Can you excuse us for a second, Charlotte?”

“Uhh—yeah,” she muttered, giving Talie a look. “I’ll see you upstairs?”

“Yes,” Talie responded firmly. “I’m still spending the night like we planned.”

After Charlotte entered her building, I stepped closer, watching her tense. She was openly glaring at me, anger brewing in her eyes.

“Where did you go tonight?” I blurted out, unable to hold back anymore.

“Out with Char.”

“Where?” I growled, my patience waning.

“Why?” she shot back, lifting her chin. “You’re not my keeper, Damian. I can go where I please.”

“You can,” I agreed slowly. “As long as you’re not doing anything that falls back on me. I don’t need my father or yours on my ass because of things you’re doing.”

Her face paled slightly, which instantly set me more on edge. She was hiding something. I sucked in a long breath, steadying my nerves.

“You weren’t with your sister all night,” I murmured, barely keeping my voice steady. “Where were you before leaving the club?”

Her eyes popped open wide. “What are you doing? Spying on me?”

“You really thought you could go out at night near the Upper East Side, and no one would recognize you?”

“I did nothing wrong,” she snapped.

“Ash was in the club, Natalia.”

Silence dragged on between us as she searched my face. I frowned, confused by her reaction. She wasn’t displaying guilt like I expected. If anything, she looked almost sad.

“He saw me in the club?” she muttered bitterly.

I cocked my head, unsure about what to say. I didn’t care if she went out with Charlotte. If she danced or had a good time. The image of her with another man was the reason I was standing on this sidewalk at four in the damn morning.

“He saw you leaving with Charlotte,” I admitted quietly.

I nearly regretted saying those words immediately because her entire demeanor changed. The worry covering her face faded, and a confident smile took its place. Whatever she was hiding, she realized I didn’t know what it was.

“Ash saw me get in a car and he went running to you?” She scoffed. “What a surprise.”

“He saw your sister all night in the club, but not you,” I accused. “Where were you?”

“None of your business.”

I scowled. “We don’t need rumors circulating that you’re having an affair. Were you with a man?”

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