Lily’s POV

“Lily,” Max said slowly.

The entire circle went silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward me like eagles locking onto their prey. The weight of their stares pressed down on my chest until I could barely breathe. Heat rushed to my face. Tears threatened to spill again, but I forced them back, blinking hard.

Why is Max doing this?

Before I could even process what was happening, Mia’s sharp, mocking laughter cut through the quiet.

“Ohhhh, Lily, really?” she said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. “I heard Lucian broke up with you because he caught you alone with Max in the woods at night. And now Max...