Bella's eyes burned with tears she'd never shed, as she wiped them from her eyes with the back of her hands as Jamie pushed past her into the home. She questioned whether staying was even for the best; in all the months she'd known him, he'd never directed such foul language at her.

She hadn't been angry at him—(and, in fact, she still wasn't)—but now that he was angry at her, she was angry at herself. One hand on the doorknob, Bella stood in silence while she watched Jamie distract himself. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip, the metallic taste of blood that touched her tongue serving as the only reminder to let go.

"Are you capable of being gentle while so upset?" she asked quietly from her corner, her eyes glancing down to his hands. "Or do you plan to exact revenge by being rough?" There was a silent question that hung in the air: Would it be better for me to leave?

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