Though I did not want to look up, I could not control my eyes from moving to his face.
Josh was standing there, right beside the bed, moving so quietly I had not even heard the door open. His face no longer carried the broken desperation from earlier. Instead, his eyes had turned cold, hard, and sharp like blades.
Before I could react, his hand shot forward, snatching the phone out of my grip.
My voice cracked, "Josh..."
But he did not let me finish. He leaned closer, his pale face twisted with something dark and terrifying. "I told you, Elena. You should not have tried to go against me."
His voice, which was no longer the weak, trembling one I had pitied a few moments ago, was now steady. Calculated.
I felt my stomach churn as realization struck me. His act… all of it, the tears, the pain, the broken loyalty, it had been a mask all along, and unfortunately, I had fallen for it.
"No… you…" My words trembled as my back pressed against the pillows, "You lied to me."
