Chapter 85: Judgment Beneath the Trees
The moment those words left Serena's mouth, Elias went blank.
For any man, it was the kind of humiliation that did not stop at embarrassment. It was being stripped raw, having your dignity flung to the ground, then ground under someone's heel for good measure. His eyes lost focus for a second. Even his breathing seemed to stall, as if his body had forgotten what to do with that much shame all at once.
Serena watched him without a trace of pity. There was no softness in her gaze, no hesitation, only the sharp satisfaction of having taken control of him again.
She did not let him stay dazed for long. Her fingers pressed down slightly, and with a crisp click the door lock gave way. Noise from outside rushed back into the car, loud and sudden, and Elias snapped back to himself.
His hand shot up at once.
Smack.
