CHAPTER 155

The evening had started with the best of intentions—a celebration to lift Letty’s spirits after her victory at the debate.

But when I stood in the dimly lit restaurant, staring across the room at Leon with another woman, all the joy I’d felt moments before drained away, replaced by a gnawing anger that threatened to consume me.

And now that I even tried to escape away from it, Leon even tried to stop me.

Leon’s eyes locked onto mine, and for a split second, the world seemed to stop. His gaze held a mix of longing and seriousness, and for a moment, my heart wavered. But I quickly shoved those feelings aside, determined not to let him get under my skin.

“Margarette, please,” Leon’s voice was low and urgent as he stood up before me, his voice almost frantic. “Can we talk? Just give me a chance to explain.”

The woman he was sitting with—the same blonde who had haunted my thoughts since that day in the shower—was walking from behind him and getting her way to approach us with wide, confus