Adrian

Chapter 29: I'm Done Playing Nice

(Adrian's POV )

Amber didn't know when to stop pushing me.

She thought she could test me.

She thought she could smile at Damien, touch him, defend him…

And I'd just let it go?

She was wrong.

—

I found Damien near the stairwell.

Alone.

Like he was waiting for me.

Like he wanted me to react.

And I gave him exactly what he wanted.

—

I grabbed his collar and slammed him against the lockers.

His smirk didn't fade.

If anything, it grew.

Like he enjoyed seeing me lose control.

Like this was all a game to him.

"Wow," Damien muttered. "That didn't take long."

I clenched my jaw. "You're gonna want to shut up, Vale."

He chuckled. "Or what?"

—

I didn't answer.

I threw a punch.

Fast. Sharp. Controlled.

He tried to dodge, but I was faster.

My fist connected with his jaw, sending him crashing into the lockers.

Gasps echoed down the hall.

Someone whispered my name.

I didn't care.

Because this was between me and him.

And I wasn't stopping until he learned his place.

—

"ADRIAN!"

My entire body locked up.

Because I knew that voice.

I turned my head slowly.

And there she was.

Amber.

She was running toward us.

Eyes wide.

Expression furious.

And worst of all?

She wasn't looking at me.

She was looking at him.

—

She pushed past me without hesitation.

"Damien!" she gasped, grabbing his arm.

I froze.

She didn't even look at me.

She was worried about him.

—

I clenched my fists. "You're kidding me."

Amber whipped around, eyes burning. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

I smirked, masking the fire inside me. "You need to be more specific, sweetheart."

She huffed, furious. "You can't just go around punching people, Adrian!"

I chuckled darkly. "Actually, I can."

—

Damien wiped the blood from his lip, grinning.

"You should keep him on a leash, Amber," he mused. "He's getting a little too possessive."

I lunged for him again.

Amber stepped between us.

She grabbed my arm.

And for the first time since this started—

I felt something snap.

—

"Enough!" she shouted.

Her voice echoed.

The hallway went dead silent.

My grip on Damien's shirt tightened.

And then, before I could even think—

Before I could stop myself—

I shoved her.

—

Not hard.

Not enough to hurt her.

But enough to make her stumble back.

Enough to make her gasp.

Enough to make me realize—

I fucked up.

—

Silence.

Pure, heavy silence.

Amber stood there, stunned.

Not scared.

Not hurt.

Just shocked.

Like she never thought I'd do that.

Like she never expected me to push her.

And neither did I.

—

My chest rose and fell heavily.

My pulse pounded.

I clenched my fists, breathing through my rage.

But the moment I saw her take a step back—

Something inside me broke.

—

"Amber," I murmured.

Her eyes flickered.

I reached for her.

She took another step back.

And it killed me.

—

Damien exhaled slowly, tilting his head.

"Well," he muttered. "That was unexpected."

I snapped my head toward him.

I wanted to hit him again.

I wanted to tear him apart.

But right now?

I couldn't even think.

Because all I could see was her.

And the way she was looking at me.

Like I had finally gone too far.

Like she wasn't sure what I'd do next.

And that?

That was the one thing I never wanted to see on her face.

—

I took a slow step toward her.

She didn't move.

Didn't say anything.

Just watched me with too many emotions in her eyes.

And I hated it.

Because I didn't know if she was angry, hurt, or something else.

And I didn't know how to fix it.

If I even could.

—

I exhaled sharply. "Amber—"

She turned.

And walked away.

—

I watched her go.

Didn't chase her.

Didn't stop her.

Because I didn't know if she'd let me.

And for the first time since I met her—

I was afraid I'd just lost her.

—