Her nails dug into his skin, her anger boiling over at his constant jabs and insults towards her. As tears welled up in her eyes, she couldn't help but absorb every hurtful word he hurled her way. The weight of his words felt like stones crushing down on her spirit, but she refused to let him break her. "You must like older men, then," Xavier added.

"What." Cathleen paused a bit and went on, "Does it bruise your ego that I don’t like you, Mr. Knight?" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she refused to let them fall in front of this stoic, unfeeling man. She scoffed, the...