Chapter 12

Winona's heels struck the hardwood floor with a jarring rhythm, her voice sharp with fury. "All you ever do is work! Do I even matter to you at all?" She snatched the small potted plant off Darren's desk and hurled it to the floor. "I text you and you don't even bother replying. Ever since Kayla left, you've been walking around like a ghost. What am I even to you?" The ceramic pot shattered on impact, soil scattering across the floor. The little succulent rolled out of the broken shards, its fleshy leaves torn, roots exposed to the air. Darren stood up suddenly, the legs of his chair screeching against the wood. "Pick it up," he said, his voice chillingly calm. Winona froze. She shrank back slightly. Darren had never spoken to her like that before. "It's just a stupid plant!" she snapped, trying to hold her ground. "I'll buy you ten more!" However, her voice had already started to tremble. Darren's eyes stayed fixed on the ruins of the pot. His hand curled into a fist at hi