Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 328

"No worries, let's go," Mandy said, grabbing Normand by the arm and heading for the exit.

But behind them, Liam's cold voice cut through the din. "MANDY!"

Her heart skipped a beat. Guilt flickered across her face, but she pretended not to hear him and kept walking.

Suddenly, Liam's hand clamped around hers, stopping her in her tracks.

"You're one of Crestview Tech's brightest, and you're really going to hang around with someone like him?"

Normand bristled, stepping forward to retort. "What's wrong with someone like me? I'm Mandy's boyfriend. Our relationship is none of your business."

Liam shot Mandy a sharp look. "He's your boyfriend?"

She hesitated for just a moment before answering, "Yes, he is. Now let go of me."

Instead of releasing her, Liam's grip only tightened. His lips curled into a bitter smile. "If he's really your boyfriend, then why did you come crying to me for help when you were desperate? Why did you need me to bail you out?"

"This is my life, not yours," Mandy snapped, wrenching her hand free.

"Mandy!"

breath, as if steeling herself for

grabbed Normand by the collar, and pulled him close, standing on tiptoe until their noses were

guard. From Liam's angle, it looked for all the world like

hands clenched

straightened and glanced over her shoulder at Liam. "Now

clenched so tight it looked painful. He shot

took Normand's hand, and strode away without a

entwined together, fury

he slammed his fist

you've really outdone yourself

his motorcycle in silence, lips pressed into a thin line, his mood as stormy as

touched. He could see it now-she'd used him as nothing more than a prop, just to

more it gnawed at him, like a stone lodged in his

Mandy if she wanted to head back to campus. Instead, he pulled up in front of the

her by the

a riot of flashing lights and pounding music, bodies moving wild and loose on the dance

shoved Mandy onto a sofa in the corner,

a flash, she raised her foot and pressed it firmly against his chest, stopping him cold. Her eyes

flickering lights threw her features into sharp relief, danger radiating from

glare. He let out a defeated sigh and flopped onto the sofa beside her, their

coming to rest on