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!"

drew a deep breath, as if steeling herself for

the collar, and pulled him close, standing on tiptoe until their

he stood frozen, completely caught off guard. From Liam's angle, it looked for

hands clenched into

straightened and glanced over her shoulder at

jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. He shot daggers at

gaze, took Normand's hand, and strode away without a backward

hands, entwined together, fury simmering in his

he slammed

really outdone

in silence, lips pressed into a thin line, his

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

thought about it, the more it gnawed at him,

wanted to head back to campus.

they got off, he grabbed her by

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

in the corner, then leaned in, crowding

against his

threw her features into sharp relief, danger

a defeated sigh and flopped onto

head coming to rest on