“It was just a joke, Harvey. Why’re you so touchy all of a sudden?” 

Harvey’s voice dropped; he was trying to keep his cool. “Leah’s been terrified of water since she was a kid. How could you use her worst fear as a joke?” 

One of them scoffed. “Think of it as payback. Vivi’s back—you don’t wanna be with her sooner?” 

“Yeah, you’ve done way worse before. What’s one more thing?” another chimed in. 

Something snapped in Harvey. He kicked the table hard, voice cold. “She just had surgery. What if the wound reopened?” 

Vivi’s face darkened. She glared at him, voice shaking. “It’s only been four years, and you’re already changing your heart?” 

“Never,” he said instantly. “You’re the only one I’ve ever loved, and that’ll never change.” 

His friends whooped, egging him on. 

“Harvey and Vivi are meant to be! If Leah hadn’t gotten in the way, you two would’ve been together ages ago. She’s shameless enough to stick around, so we should give her a final lesson—teach her that bad deeds get punished. She wrecked Vivi’s art exam chances with that car accident, so it’s only fair to break her legs too!” 

The others nodded like it made sense, but Harvey hesitated. “No. Leah’s body can’t take that kind of injury now.” 

Silence. Then Vivi burst into tears. “Harvey, you told me dating her was just revenge for me. Now that I’m back, why are you still protecting her? You saw how bad my leg was hurt back then. All I want is justice—is that too much to ask?” 

Harvey panicked, pulling Vivi into his arms and kissing her. After a long, tense moment, he rasped to his friends, “Don’t go too far. I don’t wanna owe her anything.” 

My heart tightened painfully. For Vivi’s happiness, he’d throw my life away without a second thought. 

Fine. If that’s how he wants it, I’ll make him pay. 

I pulled out my phone and shot a message to Mom. 

Harvey’s friends left loud and rowdy, probably still buzzing from their sick little plan. A few minutes later, Harvey slipped into the bedroom and sat on the edge of my bed. 

Maybe he felt guilty seeing me curled up under the covers, pale and miserable. He leaned down to kiss me, but I shoved him away. His hand froze for a second before he forced a soft smile.