Chapter 161

DAHLIA

The silence after his grandfather’s words is not quiet.

It’s violent.

It lets my brain reset and start functioning properly again.

Married.

The word detonates in my head, sharp and absolute, ricocheting until everything else fades. For a second, I can’t tell if I’m breathing or simply standing here out of spite.

Then my body reacts before my fear can catch up.

My chair scrapes back hard against the floor as I stand. The sound is ugly. Disruptive. Perfect.

Every head snaps toward me.

Alex’s eyes widen… just slightly… but it’s enough. Enough to tell me he never expected this. He expected obedience. Shock. Tears, maybe. Silence.

Thank his stars he didn’t hold me back like before. Because I already mean him. I don’t mind breaking a bottle or glass on his head with the way my inside boils like water due to my anger.

He expected the doll to stay still.

“No.”

My voice shakes, but it doesn’t break. I