The days after Marcus appeared near campus felt heavier than before. Even though I tried to push the encounter out of my mind, his words kept echoing in quiet moments: “He won’t be able to protect you forever.” I hated how much they unsettled me. To make things worse, Lila had become more persistent.
My phone buzzed multiple times throughout the day with texts from her. I deleted them as soon as they came in, but the words still lingered like smoke.
“I know you’re scared to meet me, but Damien has always had anger issues. Even as a boy he would shut down completely when he didn’t get his way. I’m worried he’s doing the same with you.”
Another one was;
“His father taught him to control everything around him. That’s why he’s so possessive. You deserve to know the full truth before it’s t
