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

that, she reached up, grabbed Normand by the collar, and pulled him close, standing on tiptoe until

From Liam's angle, it looked

hands clenched into

and glanced over her shoulder at Liam. "Now

tight it looked painful. He shot daggers at

gaze, took Normand's hand, and strode away

watched their hands, entwined together, fury simmering in his

he slammed his fist into

outdone

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

He could see it now-she'd used him as nothing more than a

gnawed at

to head back to campus. Instead, he pulled up in front of the bar and

by the wrist and, without a word,

bar was a riot of flashing lights and pounding music, bodies moving wild and

Mandy onto a sofa in the corner, then leaned in, crowding her

pressed it firmly against his chest, stopping him cold. Her eyes were icy

threw her features into sharp relief, danger radiating from every

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

coming to rest on