He acted as if he had just handed me the keys to the kingdom.
I sidestepped his reaching hand without hesitation, and my voice came out icy. "No. I am done with us."
Dylan stiffened, and his mouth twisted into a snarl as he gritted his teeth. "You are serious? What, you think just because my uncle accepted your confession, you have hit the jackpot? Fine, Nia. We are through."
For years, "breakup" had been Dylan's ultimate weapon to keep me in line. Every single time, I had been terrified, convinced that without him I would have nothing left. So whenever he dropped that word, I would swallow my pride and grovel for reconciliation.
But this time, it hit me. Endless compromise did not earn respect, only deeper contempt. Every heart has its breaking point. Backed into a corner, even the me
