My hand moves of its own accord, and Terrence stumbles back, clutching his left cheek.

“Nothing is going to happen the way you think, Terrence,” I say coldly. “Did you think I would just sit here and let you do all this? Willingly ingest a poison so that your plans can come to fruition? But that’s exactly your problem, isn’t it? You live under the delusion that everyone will just fall in line with your scheme. That you are entitled to me. You will never make any decision for me. Ever. ...