Chapter 19: Where were you?
Ella barely had time to step away from the door when Ryan stormed toward her, his face twisted in fury.
"Where the hell have you been?" he snarled, voice echoing off the cheap walls.
Ella opened her mouth to explain, but he didn’t give her the chance.
"You just disappear?!" he shouted. "Leave me here with nothing? No food, no money? The damn landlord came knocking, screaming in front of everyone because the rent’s late!"
Ella winced, her headache throbbing harder with each word he threw at her.
"I wasn’t—" she began, but he cut her off with a sharp, cruel laugh.
"Yeah, I know where you were," Ryan sneered, stalking closer until she could smell the beer on his breath. "Off whoring around."
Ella stiffened. "That’s not true—"
Ryan’s eyes gleamed with spite. "Don’t lie to me, Ella. I saw you getting out of that car." He spat the word car like it was filth.