Chapter 237: His Words Are Daggers

Holly's POV

The ride was long enough for me to catch my breath and rebuild every wall I’d ever had against David.

I could feel his eyes flicking to me at every stoplight, but I didn’t care. I was done caring.

I stared out the window the whole time, ignoring him completely…like he wasn’t even there. The city lights blurred past, and I let the silence stretch until it felt like a third passenger in the car.

Then, out of nowhere, he braked hard at a red light and turned to me. He leaned in fast, so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips, our faces inches apart. My heart stuttered, traitorous thing.

“I don’t care what prank or game you’re playing with this boyfriend bullshit,” he said, voice low and rough, eyes burning into mine. “But you have my attention. Fully. And I need you to stop whatever this is. I don’t like it.”

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt. For one reckless second, I almost closed the distance. Almost let the anger and the want and the years of longing explode right there.

Instead, I laughed…sharp, bitter, right in his face.

I didn’t flinch. I met his stare head-on and snapped back, “Good. Because I don’t care what you like or what you think. Leave me alone, Mr David.”

His jaw flexed. “Do you even know that guy? Tyler? Do you have any idea who he really is, the kind of family he comes from? Or are you just chasing money like your sist—”

The slap cut him off. My hand cracked across his cheek before I could even think, the sound sharp in the confined space. His head snapped to the side, cheek blooming red instantly, and for a second the car was dead silent except for my ragged breathing.

“Don’t you dare,” I said, voice shaking with fury. “You can say whatever nonsense you want about me, but you do not get to talk about Ava like that. You don’t know a damn thing about what we went through. You have zero right to even say her name after everything you did to us.” I leaned in now, my turn. “If the meeting’s canceled, tell me so I can go home. Being this close to you makes me sick.”

He opened his mouth…maybe to apologize, maybe to fight back…but instead he cursed under his breath, faced forward, and punched the gas the second the light turned green.

We made it to the restaurant in tense silence. It was one of those upscale places with dim lighting and leather booths. The clients…two older guys in suits and one younger woman who clearly ran the show…were already at the table. I picked the seat farthest from David, right at the end, and kept my face neutral the entire time.

I didn’t smile. Not once. Even when the clients cracked their dumb jokes about market trends or golf handicaps, I just nodded politely, lips pressed in a thin line. The younger woman noticed first.

“Everything okay, Miss?” she asked, tilting her head. “You seem a little…frosty tonight.”

David jumped in before I could answer. “She’s just stressed from work,” he said smoothly, throwing in an easy laugh. “Long day, and dragging her out here this late is more reason you should take my offer…so my staff can actually go home and sleep.”

Everyone chuckled. Except me.

Inside, I was boiling. Ava had basically raised me…played mom and dad both when our parents couldn’t. She worked two jobs, put herself through school, shielded me from the worst of everything. No one…no one…got to trash her reputation, especially not him. Not the guy who’d been part of the reason our lives got so messed up along the line. I was done making excuses for David in my head. Done.

The meeting dragged on…numbers, projections, handshakes over dessert…but eventually it wrapped. Everyone stood, smiles and firm grips all around. I managed thin, polite smiles for the clients as we said goodbyes, then it was just David and me again.

He lingered by the table after they left. “I noticed you didn’t eat anything,” he said quietly. “Order something. Eat before I drop you off.”

“I’d rather starve than eat with you,” I said flatly.

He exhaled through his nose. “What if I move to another table?”

I didn’t answer. Just looked away.

He rubbed the back of his neck, voice softer now. “Look…if it’s about what I said about Ava…I’m sorry. Terribly sorry. I was angry and I lashed out. I didn’t mean it. I know better than anyone how hard she works, how tough your situation was. How it started.”

I looked up at him, eyes burning. “Then why were you angry, David? Tell me. What did I do that made you say something so cruel?”

He opened his mouth, stuttered for the first time ever, eyes flicking away. I could see it…he was angry because of Tyler. Because Tyler had his hands on me, called me his, kissed my hand right in front of him. He was angry because someone else was claiming me out loud and he couldn’t. I wanted him to say it. I wanted him to finally lay it out there, admit he wanted me the way I’d wanted him for years.

But he didn’t.

His fists clenched at his sides, jaw locked, and he stood up abruptly. “Since you don’t want to eat, let’s go. I’ll drop you off.”

I didn’t argue. Just followed him out to the car.

The ride home was quiet again, heavier this time. When we pulled up to the apartment, Tyler was already outside…arms crossed, stance rigid under the streetlight. I’d sent him a text halfway through dinner: ‘Halfway home. Can you come out when I get there?’

David killed the ignition. His eyes locked on Tyler’s silhouette, jaw clenching so hard I saw the muscle jump.

“Holly—” he started.

I didn't wait to hear him out. I opened the door. “Goodnight, sir.”

I didn’t look back.

The second I got close, Tyler pulled me into his arms…warm, solid, safe. I melted into the hug, sinking deeper because I knew David was watching, furious, from the car. And for the first time, that didn’t give me the rush it used to.

I buried my face in Tyler’s chest and realized, with this quiet little shock, that the fire that used to consume me every time I thought of David…the one that made me want him on his knees, begging…wasn’t raging anymore. It was flickering. Dying out.

Today was literally the first day of this fake-dating thing with Tyler.

Was I already outgrowing David?

Just like that?

The thought hit me like a punch to the gut, and suddenly Tyler’s arms didn’t feel quite as safe as they had a second ago.