5 BONUS
‘Joel is still pissed.‘
They yanked her up, and she gasped for air, coughing and sputtering. “Joel!” she whimpered, putting on her best helpless look. “Didn’t you call me over because you forgave me?
“I was gonna tell you I wasn’t Vesper as soon as I got back! But Lyra kept bullying me—I was so mad, I just forgot to mention it… You saw it yourself! I got kidnapped because of her, and my mouth was split open at the party…”
She broke into sobs, playing the victim like she’d just been dragged through hell.
Joel set his wine glass down, face unreadable, and walked over slowly. He raised his hand, and the bodyguards hauled Renee to her feet. She looked up, thinking he’d finally softened–then he sneered.
Without warning, he stomped on her head, shoving her right back into the icy water.
His voice came out low and ice–cold.
“Still trying to pin it on Lyra? I know everything you did.”
The words sliced through her like a blade.
Her whole body shuddered, terror wrapping around her like a vice. For a second, she didn’t even fight back.
No. No way.
How could Joel know everything she’d done?
Wait.
Even if he knew–so what? She still had his kid! At worst, he’d just punish her a little. He wouldn’t actually hurt
her.
Clinging to that thought, Renee forced herself to calm down.
As soon as Joel pulled his foot back, she latched onto his leg, trembling and crying.
“Joel, I did it because I love you! I just wanted a beautiful future with you- that’s all. I’m not a bad person, I
swear…”
He lifted his foot again, nudging her chin up with it, eyes full of disgust.
“What you shouldn’t have done the ONE thing you absolutely shouldn’t have done–was hurt Lyra after getting her bone marrow. Just looking at you makes me sick.”
He paused, then gave her face a light, contemptuous kick with the tip of his shoe.
“Didn’t you love making people pick stuff up for you? That ring you threw last time? It’s still lying around. Go fetch it.”
