ckles were white on the steering wheel. The air in the car cr

ed me into the living room. "L

d and started walki

. He pulled out his phone, his

gated to his photo gallery, to the locked album. "I'm deletin

ne, the intimate photos of me vanished. He l

ssword," I said, my voice flat. "It'

ous that I knew, that I had uncovered this smal

ings!" he exploded, his voice echoing

y turned and walked up the stairs,

I locked the door, and the click of the lock felt like a final, definiti

otion downstairs. Laughter and loud voi

ul, Chloe, and a few of Mark's other friends. They were all cluste

sickeningly sweet smile. "Olivia! Good morning! We ca

ng relieved. "See, Liv? They

A carefully staged p

"You have to try one of these," she said, her voice d

rich, undercooked egg hit me, and my stomach churned violently. Morn

ou," I said,

tepping closer, pushing the pastry right unde

uch. I clapped a hand over my mouth and bolted, running blindly for the down

, I found the entire group staring at

nice," she whimpered to Mark.

of bacon," Chloe said, her arms crossed in

a scene," Paul adde

e completely gone. His face wa

ccept an apology? What is wrong with you?" He threw hi

sarcastic, ridi

ked at me, waiting for my tearful

ooked directly at Mark, m

I said.

y thing that broke the stunned silence. A flicker of s

gone in a

nd shrill. "Mark, she's lying! She told me yesterday

ish, so venomous, that for a

he hostile faces. "I just found out yesterday. Mark, I was coming

passed. Sarah's lie was more believable to them than my truth. I wa

he villain in a st

ir backs turned to me, their murmurs a wall of so

i

he guest room and calmly continued packing my suitcase. Every sweater, eve

ed when the door to

the doorway, a triumphant,