Chapter 36: When walls fall
Craig’s words made her stomach churn. Like bile rising to her throat. She actually, physically, felt like she might be sick.
If they owned Belford College, Merlina thought they might as well own the very air she breathes in, why did everything have to revolved around the Lesnar’s ?
"Good. Now that you’ve finally shut up," he said, not bothering to mask his smirk, "we can actually do what we’re here for."
Merlina sat still on the edge of the couch, arms folded, not in defiance, but as if she was trying to hold herself together. "Is it true?" she asked. "Does your father really... own Belford College?"
He snorted. "No. If he did, don’t you think you’d know by now?" His head tilted, and the corners of his lips twitched. "Well... then again, you’re kind of slow."
Her breath caught, but she didn’t let him see that it stung. "Let’s just get this tutorial over with."
But Craig wasn’t done. He leaned back against the couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal a teasing line of abs and that maddening V that made her brain stall. "You really hated the idea that my dad could own this place," he said, lips curling. "You should’ve seen your face."
She didn’t respond. What was there to say?
"Let me give you some advice," he said, eyes darkening just slightly. "Maybe if you got over your hatred for my family, you wouldn’t need a damn tutorial."
She blinked at him, jaw set, hands trembling at her sides. "Yeah? Says the brother of Conor. Says the guy who’s never had to bury his own mother, who’s never felt what it’s like to scream into a pillow because the silence without her is too loud!"
She flung her hand into the air, her frustration rising with it. "You don’t know what it’s like to lose someone and keep waking up like they’re still supposed to be here. So don’t sit there and tell me how to feel."