Chapter 52

Lyra

The moment Marcus walked in through that front door like he owned oxygen, I swear the entire house shifted. I mean it. The music dipped, the lights felt hotter, even the freaking air got weird and heavy like the universe itself was preparing for my breakdown.

And me?

I stood there like a stunned little loser in heels too high for my soul, gripping my red cup like it contained holy water instead of watered-down vodka punch, and staring at him like I’d just seen a demon crawl out of my past wearing expensive cologne and a smug little smirk.

Oh my God. It was him.

Marcus-fucking-Adesina.

My ex.

The boy who ruined my life. The one who made me question every single thing about myself—from my thighs to my values to whether or not I was lovable.

The same boy who slut-shamed me for not having sex with him, then had the audacity to flirt with my lab partner the next week like I was just a warm-up exercise.

The same boy who sai