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¬ HILN

My palm stung from the impact and we both froze, the shock on my face mirroring his. I hadn't expected to hit him this hard—if it had even hurt him in the first place, but I had moved on reflex. I didn't want him to touch me and he had done so anyway.

He deserved it.

Despite the shock, I felt good inside. I might have still been on edge from seeing the past Melody, but whether the connection had faded or not, if I could go back in time and slap him again, I would do it.

He deserved it. And if I could rouse him enough to be furious, I would have some sort of control over him again. He would fall for it.

He had to.

He—

His fingers clenched around my wrist tightened and he closed his eyes, taking in a drawn breath and exhaling. The muscles of his jaw twitched and rippled under his skin as he turned his head away from me and clenched his jaw while standing still.

He wasn't doing anything?

Why?