Chapter 3

3

The audio went silent instantly. Trevor had muted the mic, but it was too late.

The sky began to leak a cold, miserable drizzle. The wind picked up, cutting through my bathrobe.

I realized then that Trevor, my "honest" boyfriend, was a liar. He was right here in Iceland with her.

I found a sudden surge of adrenaline. While Dexter was distracted by his phone, I bolted in the direction Mindy had gone.

I didn't have to run far. Down by the rocky shore, I saw them.

Trevor was holding an umbrella over Mindy as they posed for a selfie. She was making a silly face, and he was laughing, pulling her close.

It was a punch to the gut. Trevor always told me he hated photos. He never took a single picture with me.

Whenever I pulled out my camera, he'd get moody. "I'm just a simple lab guy, Leila. I look terrible in photos," he'd say.

Now I knew the truth. He didn't hate photos; he just didn't want them with me.

When Trevor noticed me, his face hardened. He didn't even look guilty.

"I told you to stay put. What are you doing here?" he snapped.

"I brought Mindy here to cheer her up. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd make a scene. It's actually your fault she's sad, so consider this your way of making amends."

Mindy stood behind him, kicking at a loose pebble on the ground.

"I'm so sorry, Leila. I was just so depressed. My professor said I'd get the PhD spot if I finished that experiment, but your interruptions ruined the data..."

"This is my first time out of the country. Iceland is so beautiful. I wish I was rich like you so I didn't have to worry about my future."

Trevor squeezed her shoulder protectively. "Don't blame yourself, Mindy. It's not your fault. Careful, don't hurt your foot on those rocks."

"You're so good to me, Trevor," she whispered.

"Well, you're so fragile. Someone has to look after you," he replied.

Finally, he looked at me like I was a piece of trash on the sidewalk.

"Go back. It hasn't even been two hours. If you haven't realized your mistakes, don't bother coming back to the hotel."

He sounded so arrogant, so sure of his power over me. I walked up and slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

"Who the hell do you think you are? I haven't done anything wrong, you pathetic loser!"

"Leila! How could you hit him?" Mindy cried out. "He's just trying to help you be a better person. We all have flaws we need to work on..."

I didn't let her finish. I swung again, hitting her twice.

My hands were so numb from the cold that they started to burn after the impact. Mindy tumbled back onto the jagged rocks with a dramatic shriek.

I knew I hadn't hit her that hard. I'm not a strong person, especially not when I'm freezing to death.

She was faking it. But Trevor didn't care about the truth. He lunged forward and shoved me.

He used all his strength. I actually flew back a few feet before slamming into the rocks.

I didn't feel the pain immediately because of the cold. But I could see the blood starting to soak through my white bathrobe.

Trevor didn't even glance at me. He scooped Mindy up in his arms, looking at her like she was a dying saint.

"Leila, look at what you've done! You're a monster!"

"Do you have any idea what she went through as a kid? Violence triggers her trauma! If she has a breakdown, it's on your head!"

"You think everyone is as cold and tough as you? Mindy is a sensitive soul. You've truly disgusted me today."

They stood over me, looking down like judges. I hated looking up at them. I struggled to my feet, the blood staining my robe a grisly red.

I was glad I couldn't feel the pain yet. Mindy was sobbing into Trevor's chest, making a huge scene.

Trevor was frantically wiping her tears with a tissue. "Leila, apologize to her right now. Or this lesson is going to get a lot worse!"

I took a step back, my eyes cold. "Never. You're the ones who owe me an apology."

"You're hopeless! You will get on your knees and beg for her forgiveness, or I'm done with you!"

Dexter caught up to us then. "The whole lab will hear about this, Leila. You're finished."

Trevor was busy holding Mindy. He nodded at Dexter. "Make her kneel. She isn't leaving this beach until she shows some respect."

Dexter started walking toward me with a wicked grin.