The word landed heavy.
Unavoidable.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“You hit her,” he said evenly. “You will apologize.”
“But she—”
“Now.”
There was no anger in his voice.
No raised tone.
Just authority.
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
Because for the first time—
She understood something she hadn’t before.
The position she thought she held…
Wasn’t real.
She turned toward me slowly.
Her voice smaller now.
Tight.
