Lisa didn’t waste a second before launching into her argument. She snatched the phone from my hand, holding it away from me as if that alone would break whatever hold Nicolas still had on me.
“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “Melissa, you cannot give in to this.”
I sighed, running a hand over my face. “Lisa—”
“No, listen to me,” she interrupted, her voice insistent. “You just got back. You told me yourself that Stella warned you. She warned you, Melissa. If she, of all people, is telling you to stay away from Nicolas, that should tell you something.”
I swallowed hard. “I know… but—”
“But what, Melissa?” Lisa pressed, her eyes narrowing with frustration. “You know what he’s capable of. You know how toxic he is. You just got back, and he’s already trying to reel you in again.”
