MELANIE
As the words casually roll off his tongue, the ringing in my ears intensifies.
I can see my whole world slowly fall apart, every brick crumbling and smashing against the floor.
Val listens intently, his fingers digging into the skin of my shoulders.
I don’t even want to look at Xavier’s face. There is no doubt I would find nothing but sheer pleasure.
But there’s nothing pleasurable about this plan, nothing at all.
“No.” I cut in, mid Cassian’s sentence.
The scowl that forms on his face causes my throat to tighten.
“What?” His brows furrow, and I pull away from Val’s hold, walking towards the couch where Penelope is asleep.
“I’m not doing that,” I shake my head. “I won’t let you do that.”
“What are you talking about, Melanie?” Xavier fires at me.
“What other cho
