ia Si

s dug into my skin like an iron vise, the pressu

always used his physical

stumble in my flat shoes, but I bit down hard on the inside

ak door off the side of the stage and dr

ent thud instantly cut off the roar of the repo

e slammed into the cold plaster wall. A dull, heavy a

slammed both of his hands against the w

g onto my cheek. "Do you have any idea what

some, furious face. My eyes were completely d

He pulled back his right fist and smashed it int

't flinch. I had survived capital wars that wiped out entire family

aved. He instantly dropped the aggressi

g with fake condescension. "Claudia, listen to me. Bi

oke my cheek. "You know you are my real

like he was carrying a deadly disease. The di

ke softness on his face vanished,

im, Claudia. Look at yourself. You are unemplo

gne. "Without my name and my resources, you wouldn't eve

pire was built on my hidden labor call me a parasite. I suddenly reali

ond of hesitation, I grabbed the engagement

ng a cheap, cloudy sparkle. His assistant had bo

raight at his chest. The metal hit the la

e sharp clatter echoed in the silence as it ro

no anger, no sadness, no inflecti

stared at me like I had grown a second head. He genui

nst his chest, and shoved him out of my

pun around, his face twisting into hysterical

ty!" he screamed, his voice echoing off the walls. "I will

ld brass doorknob of the exit

my shoulder. I looked at him the exact w

en and stepped out into th

r face. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a