#Chapter 87: Fire Benieath the Skin

Lauren The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of city streets and the distant hum of traffic. My heels clicked against the pavement, sharp and rhythmic, matching the rapid beat of my heart. I walked a little faster, not caring that Liam was just a few paces behind me, his steps long and confident. I could feel his eyes on my back, and it made me want to grit my teeth. “Lauren, stop walking so fast,” Liam called after me, his voice dripping with that same teasing edge I was so tired of. "You’re gonna break your heels." I didn’t respond. I just kept moving, my mind racing faster than my feet, a storm of emotions swirling inside me. Anger, frustration, guilt. I didn’t know what to feel anymore, not after what happened at the restaurant. The way he’d spoken to me, like I was some... some child who didn’t know her own mind. Like I was incapable of making my own decisions. Like he owned it. “You think I can’t handle myself?” I muttered under my breath, my fingers curling into