Page 135 of Brighter Together

Fear floods every part of me so quickly that my body seems to remember before my mind does.

“Lee.” My voice comes out strangled. “You’re hurting me.”

His face is inches from mine.

“You don’t even know how much I can hurt you.”

My stomach turns cold.

“What the fuck are you playing at, Ella? Why haven’t we got the contract yet?”

“He’s still reviewing the proposals.”

I grab his wrist.

My fingers barely move him.

“Let go.”

He releases me with a shove.

I stumble against the wall and suck in air.

My throat burns.

Lee steps closer.

“We need that deal.” His voice is lower now, which is somehow worse than the shouting. “The bank wants confirmation by the end of the week. If we don’t get that contract, they won’t extend the loan.”

“That isn’t my responsibility.”

The words leave my mouth before fear can stop them.

Lee’s expression hardens.

I instantly regret it.

“Everything is always someone else’s fault with you.”

There it is.

The same line.

Different wording.

Same message.

Selfish.

Disloyal.

Unhelpful.

“You walked away and left Dad and me to carry everything. The least you can do is fix this.”

“I already did what you asked.”

“You drew some plans.”