My body went cold. I stepped back instinctively. I'd played this moment hundreds of thousands of times in my head over these five years, yet my mind felt struck by lightning the second I saw him in person.
He stepped forward; I stepped back.
I dropped my gaze, clenched my fists to steady myself.
Get a grip, Viona. You've prepared for this. Don't waver. Don't be afraid.
I forced myself to look into those brown eyes again, even though my heart was pounding so hard that cold sweat prickled beneath my clothes.
Damn it. Why was he looking at me like that? So soft. So pleading. The look that always made my heart weaken.
No. I couldn't let it get to me.
Remember how easily he crushed you like dust in a bin, Viona. Don't you dare forget.
I cleared my throat to calm my heartbeat.
"What—"
But he suddenly closed the distance, grabbed my arm, and pulled me into a tight embrace so hard my whole body jolted in alarm. In disgust.
