"No... No, Adrian, you don't mean that." Lydia's voice cracked violently, each word catching in her constricted throat. She shook her head in frantic denial, the motion growing increasingly manic as panic clawed its way up from her chest. "You're just trying to tear me apart. You're lying to me!"
Her hands flew to her temples, manicured nails digging into her scalp as if she could physically extract the horrific words he had just spoken. The pressure built behind her eyes, a throbbing ache that matched the pounding of her heart. She had spent years building this life, this identity as Adrian's chosen one, and now he threatened to demolish it with a few casual sentences.
"Look at me! You love me! You chose me over her!" Her voice climbed higher, desperation bleeding through every syllable. The words tumbled out in a frantic rush, as if saying them quickly enough might make them true. "You can't stand there and tell me our entire life is just some cruel game to you!"
