“Linda, you’ll regret this!”

Jim clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, the sound sharp in the air, betraying his suppressed fury. His hawk-like eyes, cold and piercing under the moonlight, stared at me with a mix of grievance and menace—he stood still, like a lifeless ancient statue.

I stood on tiptoe and traced a circle on the ground with my foot.

“Jim, I’ll say it one last time. If you dare to cross this line, I, Linda, will destroy everything you hold dear tonight. Believe it or not, we’ll see soon enough. One mistake, two mistakes—do you really think there’ll be a third chance? Don’t you dare underestimate a...