Valerie

My voice, hoarse and unused for the past three days, rang out loud in the hall for the first time.

The entire place stilled with shock as I focused on him. The panic in his eyes was clear.

“Val-” his words were blissfully cut off by my slap. The sound rang across the large hall.

The pain in my palm was worth it. As he turned towards me, stunned into place, I finally revealed the sneer I'd held back.

He'd really believed my ruse. He'd thought he had everything under my control, ...