"It was so easy to get you running quicker than your legs," Lisa said, mockingly fascinated. "How sweet... You really do cling to Jacob like a lovesick puppy, don’t you?"

I fumed, a burning sensation spreading through my chest like lava. "This was your doing," I voiced, closing the distance between us. "You used his phone to text me. You did this!"

I should have known because there was no way Jacob would say those things to me. What exactly did she do to him? He looked so scared and angry.

This bitch dug her claws into him!

"You made him say those things to me. You hurt him so that he’d lie to my face!"

Lisa stared at me in disbelief before letting out a laugh.

"Oh my! You give me far too much credit. I just knew he’d be here, as for the rest... well, the poor guy has had enough, wouldn’t blame him for how he lashed out. Figured he couldn’t just stand you anymore."

"That’s not true!" I pushed against her chest.

Lisa stumbled back slightly, pinning me with a look that screamed blood.

"You don’t know anything about Jacob. Don’t talk about him like that!"

She let out a mocking laugh, pushing her bleached blonde hair away from her face. "You are so naive."

"What did you just say?"

"Haven’t you realized it yet? You’re so obsessed with the idea of being in love that you can’t see the truth staring back at you. That’s so pitiful and depressing, Ana."

She came closer with a dark expression, and on instinct, I took a step back.

"Jacob is your childhood friend. Your bodyguard, too. Yet despite his role, he managed to gain your father’s favor and grow close to you and Annabeth."

When she caught my narrowed gaze, she added. "I did my homework."

She tutted in fake sympathy next. "You loved him all those years, but you never realized it, did you? That he always had eyes for sweet Annabeth. She was everything you were not... better in fact. A shadow cast over you..."

My back met the wall, and I froze in place.

"Too bad that didn’t last, am I right? I can’t imagine living in someone else’s shadow. Which is why, deep...down, you must’ve been so happy she was gone, and you could finally have Jacob all to yourself. Tell me, Ana... wasn’t it satisfying when she was out of the picture?"

"Stop talking..." I forced out, my rage barely hidden. "You don’t know anything."

"I do... and I see you for what you are. You claim you love your sister, but I know you hated her."

"Enough!" I hissed, and she took a laugh out of it.

"I told you you were gonna regret striking me. Let this be a warning not to mess with me again or even have any thoughts that you can be more than what you are. Act as you are bought for, a thing that doesn’t matter to anyone. All alone... abandoned by family."

Her words pierced through me like knives.

"An expensive property..." She eyed me from head to toe. "Wear pretty clothes, do your nails, because that’s all you’re worth and will ever be. A. Lonely. Spoiled. Princess... who has tried so hard to be someone she’s not."

With a smug smirk, she slipped on her sunglasses and walked away.

My lungs burned with each breath, my eyes stung so badly that my vision blurred. I hugged myself as a sob wrecked through me, and the cold sensation of tears streaming down my face made me quiver.

I stormed out of the café but I couldn’t get far because of the heaviness that weighed on me as if my whole body was being forced down by a boulder.

I was practically dragging my feet against the floor, not until I made my way to one of the lined plush benches tucked between pillars.

My butt pressed down into the foam, my grip tightening against my sides as I tried to breathe, and the moment I did, tears fell nonstop without my control as I just broke down in silent cries.

I don’t know how long I just sat there, but long enough to spot Luca and Dante coming toward me.

I quickly used the back of my hand to wipe my face, put on my sunglasses, and push to my feet.

Dante came at me as if he was gonna murder me, but Luca pressed his hand against his chest before he could get too close.

"Easy there..." Luca crooned with amusement. "We can’t harm a single hair on her head, remember?"

I shot him a suspicious look. Weren’t they the same ones who wanted to get rid of me?

After what I did in the beauty house, they had enough motive.

Dante released a ragged breath, but his look spelled that he was itching to do damage.

Bunch of psychopaths.

"Is this a ritual of yours? Making us search for you like madmen?" he snarled.

"Relax, we found her, didn’t we? The worst is over," said Luca.

Dante ground his teeth. "And if we hadn’t? If Don had found out we lost sight of her—"

"I went to take a shit."

They paused at my sudden words.

"Would you like details about how that went? Oh, and don’t mind the scarf and glasses, I can’t go around without people looking at me. It creeps me out."

"That must’ve been some impressive shit you took if you’re willing to pull that stunt off," Dante gritted.

I crossed my arms, shrugging. "Impressive, indeed. A girl’s gotta do her business somewhere else, like a queen. Do you have a problem with that?"

Luca snorted loudly, and when Dante shot him a look, he stifled his laugh until his mouth got puffed.

I walked past them in quick steps, and when they weren’t following, I twirled to them.

"Shall we? My gilded cage awaits..." I didn’t wait for them as I cat-walked toward the entrance.