"What do I do to stop you from leaving?"
My steps slowed.
I tried to walk past him, but his hand caught mine. Not roughly. Just enough to make me stop. I turned, meeting his eyes. The mansion was quiet. Too quiet. Just the two of us standing there like we were sharing a dangerous secret.
"Let go, Victor," I whispered. "Someone might see us."
His fingers loosened slightly… but instead of stepping away, he shifted me gently toward the wall, into the darker corner of the hallway.
"Now? No one will see," he murmured near my ear.
Something inside me snapped. I pushed him back a little.
"That's it, Victor. That's exactly why I need to leave this house."
For a brief moment, something unfamiliar passed through his eyes. Surprise… maybe even hurt. He searched my face like he didn't understand what he was hearing.
"I'm tired of being hidden," I continued. "I've wasted so much time fooling around. I think it's about time we finally grow up."
