Page 57 of Lies Like Love

The buzzer sounds and my focus snaps to Axel, who’s already coming at me at full speed. He’s an idiot for a guy as big as he is. If he learned to fight a fraction better than he does now, he’d be able to take out any guy in here with his size and force alone. But he’s sloppy, and I can’t help but smirk as I watch him already making mistakes.

He reaches me and rears back, but it’s too late.

Stepping to the side, I dodge his first punch. Axel should see it in my eyes that this is already over, but he isn’t smart. So he’s still smiling like there’s a chance he’ll recover.

Last time I was here, I went all nine rounds. Took a beating and wore myself out trying to prove myself to the girl who never cares enough when I need her to, and too much when I don’t.

Not tonight.

Axel steps in, and I seize the opportunity to give him an uppercut to the jaw. His head snaps back and a grunt leaves his chest. But I’m not done. As good as it feels to slam my fist into his face and listen to his teeth chatter, I’m not going to spend my night on him.

He stumbles, but I don’t back up. I let loose all the things I shouldn’t. The things that got me into this mess in the first place. With a final hit to the side of the temple, Axel drops and paramedics rush in.

I went too far, and it should matter.

I won the fight, and it should matter.

Brea looks ready to get down on her knees for me, and it should matter.

It doesn’t.

Without waiting for them to even call my name, I climb out of the ring, passing Sage and Crew as I do, and ignoring the looks they share that tell me exactly what they’re thinking.

Fel can run, but she can’t hide.

And she can hate me all she wants—she’s mine now. I’m not giving her back to them.

18

Fel

Champagne.Diamonds.Meninsuits more expensive than most people’s entire wardrobes.

And they act like it’s nothing.

Ithought it was nothing for years as I grew up in my glass castle. Not realizing at the time how easily they shatter. One pebble of reality and the veil drops, the stained glass falls, the illusion rains around you, and all that’s left is the price people pay for cutthroat greed.

“Felicity, you look stunning as always.” Grandmother stops in front of me, while Grandfather continues his conversation.

Apart from a polite hello, he’ll ignore me for the majority of the night to focus on people more important.

Grandmother skims me head to toe, smiling in appreciation as her gaze falls to how the dress hugs my body perfectly. Sweeping her eyes back up, she pauses at my hair.

“I can schedule an appointment with Venus if you would like. Your red is losing its vibrance with that awful city water.”

My throat tightens at her immediate reminder of how she’s so good at picking me apart. She’ll toss out compliments to appease my ego, but then drop one little remark at the end to ensure I spend weeks questioning if I’m good enough. I could be polished head to toe by the best team at a world class spa and she’d find one thing to remind me there’re always imperfections.

It’s a trait she passed down to my mother, and all I can do is hope I’ll be strong enough to show love without judgment someday.

“Good to see you, Grandmother.” I try to ignore her dig, regretting my decision to show up tonight more with each passing second.

I was being impulsive after last night. And almost as if my grandparents sensed it, they called as I made my way home from Jude’s apartment. They knew the one thing I couldn’t say no to was showing my face at Mom’s foundation’s annual event, which is why they invited me here.

Her foundation is all that’s left of her since she died. Proof that even if she felt cold at times, she cared about people.

Standing here now, I wish I’d felt strong this morning instead of vulnerable. One step back in my old life is a harsh reminder of all the phony smiles and ulterior motives I left behind.

I’m not sure what’s worse—suffering through this or knowing at the end, I’ll circle right back to where I shouldn’t.

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