All the Lies (Lies & Truths Duet #1)(20)

“Who the fuck are you?” he asks with a semi-astonished tone as if seeing me for the first time.

“I’m…” I trail off. How the hell am I supposed to answer that question?

“You’re nothing, Reina. You’re only something when I decide you are.” He lowers his hand to my collarbone in a threatening caress. “Stop playing these fucking games with me.”

“What games?” I’m panting. The skin where his mouth was feels like wild flames. “You’re the one who trailed my ass and cornered me. Stop being so hot and cold, damn you.”

“Hot and cold, huh?”

“Yes. You’re giving me freaking whiplash, dude.”

“Dude?” He tightens his hand around my neck as if he’s pining for patience. “Oh, you’re good. You’ve become so good at this. What will it be next? Spreading your legs for me?”

“You’re the last person on this planet I would ever fuck.” There isn’t much conviction behind my words, but I stand my ground anyway.

“As if I would be interested in a monster like you.”

I try to pretend it doesn’t hurt. I try to ignore the pang creeping under my skin after how good he made me feel seconds ago.

The place he sucked on is turning ice cold all of a sudden. The fire has been extinguished and there are only ashes now.

I’m not the unfeeling monster he paints me as. It hurts, you know. Being this strongly hated and not knowing the reason pains me as much as my injuries.

Tears well in my eyes, but I blink them away. No one will see me weak and vulnerable.

No. One.

Instead, I puff up my chest. “Then why do you keep touching me?”

“I touch what’s mine whenever I fucking please.”

Anger bubbles under the surface, but I strike back in a cool tone. “Well, newsflash, Asher: I’ve decided I’m no longer yours. I’m calling off the engagement.”

I’m surprised I lasted this long. I should’ve ended the whole thing when he called me a monster in the hospital.

This is another one of Old Reina’s wrong decisions that I’m fixing for her.

You’ll thank me later, girl.

True, she was the one who got engaged to him and she has the right to end it on her own. However, I can’t possibly stay with this asshole when all he ever wants to do is hurt me.

I’m not that desperate.

Or fucking stupid.

He laughs, and the sound is as hollow as his soul. “That’s not how it works.”

“This is a free country. I won’t stay engaged to a freak like you.”

He watches me for long seconds as if my words fell on deaf ears. “We’ve been engaged since we were fifteen. It’s a family thing. Shut your mouth and go with it.”

“Or what?”

“Or you lose the glamorous life you love so much.” He tilts his head to the side. “The condition to receive your inheritance is to marry me.” He leans in and brushes his tongue along the sensitive skin he sucked on earlier. “Till death do us part, my ugly monster.”

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

Why the hell would my father do that?

My head becomes a jumbled mess. “But you obviously hate me. Why would you want to do this?”

Goosebumps cover my skin as he says, “You owe me a life, and I’ll ruin yours as payback.”





Asher left me standing there.

Just like that. No Do you need help getting inside? Or anything remotely human.

Motherfucker.

I have to hobble for fifteen minutes to reach the entrance. Since I don’t remember this place, it takes me even longer. I don’t ask the others for help since that’s the same as admitting weakness.

As soon as I walk through the huge doors, an onslaught of students greets me.

“You’re okay, Reina?”

“How is the leg, Reina?”

“Is it true you were in a fire, Reina?”

“Are you cheering for the Devils this Friday?”

I try to smile, but it’s like my reaction is frozen beyond reach. I don’t know these people, and while I’m glad no one seems to recognize I don’t remember them, I don’t want to sound or appear rude.

After all, this is my college.

The attention in the halls is like having a vicious tongue lap my skin. I can see hatred behind some smiles, envy behind others. There are also eager faces, both male and female, who wave awkwardly as if they’re sure I won’t return them.

I figured I’d be popular considering the stupid-ass cheerleading position, but I never thought it would be this…fake.

So far, I haven’t met anyone who actually sees me, the person inside, not the face or the cheerleading uniform—though even I don’t know who the hell the person inside is.

I focus on my steps instead of the horde of people surrounding me. The halls are large, but I can’t breathe well with the crowd.

It’s worse that I don’t know where to go.

You should’ve planned this better.

Shut up, brain. I know that.

“Out of the way, fuckers,” howls a familiar voice from the other side of the hall.

Students trip over each other to make way for none other than Owen.

He grins from ear to ear, winking at a girl here and smacking another’s ass there. It’s like he thinks he’s a sex god blessing the peasants with his presence.