Chapter 4

I had never imagined I'd be slapped so mercilessly by Alex Thorne in public.

He put his full, unforgiving strength into that blow.

My cheek instantly swelled and turned crimson.

A sharp ringing filled my ears.

All sounds seemed distant and unclear.

As I stumbled, Ms. Jenkins caught me.

Tears of pain streamed down my face.

The memory of him choking me in my past life felt terrifyingly real.

I was shaking uncontrollably from fright.

After a while, I regained my composure, forced myself to stand steady, and tried to calm down.

"Alex Thorne, when have I ever tormented Brooke Miller?"

A vein pulsed on Alex Thorne's forehead.

He was about to say something more, but Brooke, limping, quickly walked over and held him back.

"No, you've never tormented me, Evie. Alex is just... too worried about me."

"I don't hold past grudges... Evie, please don't be angry with Alex."

Her voice was full of feigned grievance.

I listened, utterly bewildered, even beginning to doubt if I had really bullied her.

Brooke was helped away by Alex Thorne.

Watching their backs, my rationality slowly returned.

The throbbing in my cheek stung my nerves. I instinctively raised a hand to touch it.

The pain on contact sent a jolt of urgency through me.

"Ms. Jenkins, quick, get some ice packs."

Right now, nothing was more important than the audition.

The cold touch made my fingertips redden.

I lowered my eyes, looking at the lines I had memorized, and my thoughts drifted back to my previous life.

When we were children, Alex and I had been close.

We grew up together, he always put me first, treated me like a princess.

At our high school graduation, some guy, drunk, made a few inappropriate jokes about me.

When Alex Thorne heard it, his face instantly changed.

In front of a crowd of people, he nearly beat that guy to a pulp.

He told me then,

"Evie, as long as I'm here, no one will dare to bully you."

After that, everyone knew I was his untouchable.

But later...

It was also him who felt I had cost him his true love, and so, in retaliation, he dragged my dignity into the public eye, shattered it, and trampled it underfoot.

Thankfully, in this life, I'm not his fiancée.

I haven't stood in the way of his love.

Just a little more time, and I'll be able to completely cut ties with him.