Chapter 145

DAHLIA

I didn’t feel my legs.

I didn’t feel the floor beneath me.

I didn’t feel anything except the sharp, unbearable ringing in my head, like someone had struck a bell inside my skull and the sound wouldn’t stop.

I just ran.

If I stayed one more second in that hallway… if I looked at him… if I heard one more word from Loren’s filthy mouth or his…

No. I couldn’t breathe.

The cold air slapped me the moment I pushed through the restaurant door, but it didn’t help. My chest kept tightening, squeezing, and burning, like I was inhaling fire instead of oxygen.

“Dahlia… wait!”

I heard him, but my body was already in motion, instinctive, desperate.

Run.

Run before you break.

But he caught up to me. Of course he did. He’s Sebastian… he always catches up.

“Sweetheart…” he said.

The name pierced me like a blade.

Sweetheart.

How many times had I replayed that word at night? How many times had I let m