Even as Asti lingered, waiting for Tiel to say something more with wide, teary eyes, he did not. Tiel's expression remained the same, his fixed gaze meeting hers in the deafening silence of that office. A look of pity and regret, mixed with shame.
She gritted her teeth, frustrated.
Asti felt used. Her heart flared with anger so intense that she lifted her hand.
The sound of flesh against flesh was loud in their ears as his face turned sideways, wide-eyed. He looked over to her, his lips parted.
Asti held her wrist; the sting against her palm was sharp, but even that slap wasn't enough to cool the anger inside her. She was a fool in her own fairytale, believing she was loved and cared for.
When in reality, she was no different than an adopted stray dog. How could he be so cruel? After giving her a taste of luxury, of a world she had grown used to, he would take it all away from her, just like that.