Chapter 151: Penny
Rebecca is still smiling, that sharp, snake like grin that twists my stomach. Like the knew. Like she’s known all along
Before I can process the betrayal painted in flexily on her face, someone pulls the plug on the TV. The scenen exti in lilack. The mom in hurring, voicet sharp and angry, Some guy jala Rebecca’s phone, and she tricks, twatting at his hand, bet he holds it out of her mach
mes
I can’t move. My whole body is trembling. My head feels like it’s underwater, the world moted and blurry and me. Zor. It
My mind is screaming.
The reason I’m out of the studio for two works. The reason I nearly broke by neck. The memon I’m terrified to dance again.
Tow, who’s been laughing and whispering and making side comments from across the room this entire trip.
Why?
Why was she even at the studio in the first place?
fir him. I can’t
A sharp soh breaks free from my throat, and Max’s arm comes around my shoulders, his voice in my ear, trying to comfort me. But I can’t bear heat anyone. My pulse is rearing, blood rushing so loudly I feel like I might pass out..
I turn in a panic, my eyes scanning the room Zoe, Where is Zoc?
She’s not here.
My eyes dart to the stairs. Tyler. I need Tyler. I need my boyfriend. I need him to hold me, to tell me this is a mistake, that there’s a reasonable explanation for this. That it’s all just some homible, twisted misunderstanding.
I push past Max, stumbling over someone’s foot, ignoring the hands trying to grab at me, the voices shouting my name.
“Panny! Penny, wait!” Max’s voice is behind me, closer. He’s following me, but I don’t care. I reach the stairs and take them two at a time, my chest tight, my vision blurring.
I reach Tyler’s dour and shove it open.
Tyler
The sucked out of my lungs.
No, no,
I feel the blood drain from my face, my knees weaken Zoe in sitting on his lap, her skinny, manicured fingers tangled in his hair, her legs wrapped around his want. His hands are on her hips, holding her tight, And their mouths… their mouths are-
He tears his lips from her, head whipping towards me, eyes wide. He stands up so last, Zoe tumbles off his lap and hits the floor with a yelp. I stumble back, my shoulder hitting the doorframe as my visión tunnels.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my voice breaking. I cover my mouth with my hand, bile rising in my throat-
Tyler takes a step toward me, hand out. “Pent, 1-
“How long?”
His mouth opens, then closes.
1/3
Chapter 151: Penny
“How long, Tyler” I manage to choke out, my voice shaking, tears homing my vision.
“Tom, please, just
He hesitates, glances down at Zoe, whose face is twisted in a mix of fear and anmance. Then hack at me
He swallows, Doesn’t answer
A sob tears through me, my entire body tembling. “Did you know?” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Did you kee
His eyes flicker, jaw tightening.
- c. His silence is my answer
Oh God.
the’s the peston In
My legs nearly por eut.
Max reaches me then, his arms coming around me, pulling me back. I want to collapse into him, let him carry me out of this nightmare.
sme toward him. “Max, back the fuck off!” he growls, his face twisted in rage.
Tyler langes, grabs my other atm, and jerks i
“Stay out of this,” he snaps, pulling me harder.
“Let her go.” Max snarls, yanking me hack, his fingers digging into my waist. “You have no more business with her. You fucked it all up the second you cheated”
I hear my own gasp, a small, broken sound that escapes without my permission.
Cheated.
The word echoes in my mind, splintering into a thousand shands that cut deep into my heart.
Tyler’s eyes flash, and his grip on my arm tightens, his other hand balling into a fist. “Shut the dock up, Mas. You don’t know shit.”
.
“I know you’re a piece of shit,” Max spits back, his chest heaving, his jaw clenched. “I know you don’t deserve her.”
“Fuck you,” Tyler snarls, and before I can even blink, he cocks his arm back and punches Max in the jaw
scream
rights himself and swings back, his fist connecting with Tyler’s cheek. The sound is
Max stumbles back, his grip on me loosening for a split second before he rights ( sickening, a duff, wet thuil.
“Stop it!” 1 Lay, trying to wedge myself between them, but Max shoves Tyler back with his shoulder, his arm coming protectively around me.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Max mutters, his voice tight, his breaths coming in harsh, angry bursts.
Tyler is shouting behind us, his voice cracking, desperate. I catch snippets of it.
“Penny, wait! Penny, please! I can explain! I was past–I didn’t mean to–P
- Please, just-
But Max pulls me down the stairs, his grip fim but not painful, his body blocking Tyler’s attempts to reach me
We burst through the front door, the cold air hitting my face like a slap. I’m crying so hard I can barely becathe, my legs shaking so badly I nearly collapse.
Max pulla me into his arms, holding me tightly, his hand cradling the back of my head.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his voice cough, his breath warm against my ear. “I’m so, so fucking sorry.”
1 sob into his chest, chitching his jacket, no nails digging into the fabric, my entire world spinning and shattering around see
“Did you know?” I whisper, my voice broken and smál
Max, swallows hand. “Yes and no. I knew he was hiding something, and I thought it might le Zoe, but I didn’t know for sure. I differt know about… thin
I let out another broken sob, my knees bockling
Max holds me tighter, his strong arms a lifeline at my heart crumbles to pieces in my chest,
