Lilac's breath caught in her throat the moment Stanley stepped in front of her. His eyes lingered on her flustered face, studying every flicker of emotion before his dangerously low voice broke her trance.
"It's almost pitiful watching you try so hard to convince me that you're into Damien."
His words were a blade, cutting through her, leaving behind a wound that stung more than she wanted to admit. For a moment, her expression wavered before she forced it blank.
"And who says I'm trying to convince you?" she challenged, her voice unwavering. "Did you forget? I told you I would try to love him. I'm simply opening my heart to him."
Stanley's jaw clenched. Her defiant stance did nothing to ease the tightness in his chest—it only made it worse.
"And I warned you not to do that," he bit out. "Don't force yourself into something that doesn't come naturally."
Lilac let out a cold chuckle, brushing off his concern as if it meant nothing.
