Ezekiel's POV
I remained frozen in my chair long after Ximena disappeared through the door, my eyes locked on the empty space where she had stood moments before.
The room fell silent at first, as if everyone suddenly understood they had crossed a line. But the quiet lasted only seconds before nervous laughter bubbled up again, filling the uncomfortable void with forced jokes and awkward chatter.
Nobody seemed to give a damn that Ximena had fled like her world had just collapsed around her.
But I couldn't shake the image of her face from my mind.
The shock in her eyes when that bottle pointed straight at her.
The way her breathing turned shallow and ragged while everyone erupted in cruel laughter.
And that final look she gave me before running - like I had just confirmed every terrible thing she believed about herself.
My stomach churned with something I didn't want to name.
I despised that expression on her face.
Even more, I hated knowing I had put it there.
