Chapter 118: Puffed Up

The moment he spoke, I thought about those slaps. I hadn't looked in a mirror yet, but I didn't need one. My face had to be red and puffy by now. I probably looked hideous. The thought of looking like a wreck in front of Arthur made me want to disappear on the spot. My cheeks were still burning, throbbing with pain that hadn't faded at all. I pressed my palms to my face, desperate to leave before he saw me like this. "Serena Cole, you've really grown some guts, huh? Making a scene at a police station? Guess I underestimated you." Arthur pulled a tube of ointment from the first-aid kit, squeezed some onto a cotton swab, and stepped toward me. His hand reached out, and I instinctively jerked away. "Don't move." His voice was cold, sharp as a blade. Arthur was naturally commanding, and for reasons I didn't understand, I froze and sat still like an obedient child. We weren't even together anymore, so why was I still like this around him? He dabbed the ointment onto my face, and the cool to