FAYE
I looked up at him.
The question was simple.
And for a second, I thought about brushing it off.
Keeping it light.
“I was upset,” I said, shrugging slightly. “I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“No,” Alexander said.
The word cut through immediately.
I blinked.
“What?”
“That’s not what I mean,” he said. “I want the real reason you slapped me, Faye.”
I hesitated.
Because there was a difference.
Between what sounded acceptable...
And what was actually true.
And the truth…
I didn’t even like thinking about it.
I let out a slow breath, my chest tightening slightly as I looked away for a moment before forcing myself to meet his eyes again.
“It’s going to sound crazy,” I said.
He didn’t respond.
Just waited.
“I... I wanted to... to hurt you.”
The words felt terrible as they le
