~Ava's POV~
“That's more than I can say for you," I said again, because I wanted it to land twice.
Damien's mouth opened. Nothing came out at first. He looked at the phone still in his hand like it had betrayed him personally, like it was supposed to do something it hadn't done.
"You already knew," he said. Flat. Like he was testing the words out to see if they were even true.
"Weeks ago." I crossed my arms. "I found the file myself, Damien. Nobody handed it to me. I read every page of it in one night and then I spent three days deciding what to do with it."
"And you just... stayed with him?" His voice cracked up an octave. "After hearing that? After knowing he planned to use you like a weapon?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because there's a difference between what someone plans when they're ful
