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Her tone turned downright vicious—the voice I remembered from my childhood “You’re not the one in control here, Aria Lynne You hurt me, I’ll hurt your father”

I slaer flashed through me So, too, did anxiety

How could I have forgotten who she truly was? Why hadn’t I recalled from the onset that it was Maleficent I dealt with?

I dropped my head in my hands I could rattle off sorand sches They tore at me more than they ever would at her, because it was my ownfro my mother, it wasn’t easy to rise to her level The fact that I had worried me a little But above that, I had the very distinct and sinking feeling that I couldn’t walk the walk

Hoas I going to protect my dad and still make my car payments?

“Ari?”

Oh, shit

Dane

I sniffled and swiped atmy head

“What is it?” He was instantly alar across my office

Da me at work This was a private matter and yet here I was, painted into a corner with one o toe-to-toe

“Moet her to stop”

His gaze narrowed “I thought the two of you didn’t speak”

“We didn’t And I’d gotten over it Then she started seeing azines Suddenly she wants to be besties”

That was a total lie—she didn’t want friendship or anything beyond h me