Chapter 27

MARIELLA

I seethed with anger as I walked home from speaking with Nicole. I was humiliated twice. First was Marcus chasing me out of his office and the second was Nicole slapping me.

I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of getting to me, so I put on a calm face and didn't flinch even when the slap stung.

As I turned onto my street, I glanced up at the neat rows of houses and felt a surge of bitterness rise up in my throat. I didn't want to go home.

I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. I wanted to scream, to shout, to let out all the pent-up frustration that had been building inside me

But I couldn't do that here. Not where anyone could see me. So I took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and walked towards my front door with slow, deliberate steps. Inside, I knew I would be safe.

But as I fumbled with my keys, my mind kept drifting back to Nicole's slap, and the humiliation of being thrown out of Marcus's office like a common criminal.

I knew I needed to talk to someo