Chapter Twenty Eight: What went wrong

*Vivienne*

“Or else what?” she retorted, her eyes blazing with challenge. “You will kill me off like you killed your past girlfriends? Or worse still, like you killed dad?”

Wait… what?

Dumbfounded, my slightly wide eyes traveled back to Liam just in time to see his face shift, a shadow crossing his features. It was like a light had flickered out. The vibrant energy that usually surrounded him dimmed, leaving only a fragile silence where warmth had been.

He stiffened as his jaw clenched tightly. “The fuck did you just say to me?” he asked, a chilling calm in his voice that sent cold chills racing down my spine.

And I know Valerie felt his anger too because her bare shoulders tensed, a nervous energy radiating from her. She swallowed hard and lifted her chin in fake bravado. “You heard me,” she muttered. “And I said what I—”

“Valerie, that's enough,” Their mother, Mrs. Pryce finally interfered, her sharp tone brooking no argument.

Valerie's head shot towards her mother. “But, mother—