Ava barely remembered the drive home. Her vision blurred with equal parts rage and shame, her grip on the steering wheel tight enough to ache. Ethan’s words replayed in her head, sharp and unforgiving, like they’d been carved into her skin.

By the time she reached her apartment, she was shaking. She tossed her bag on the floor and collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. For the first time in years, she wanted to scream, to shatter something, anything, just to release the ...