Chapter 2

2: 2

2

That night, Carmen still wouldn't let it go. She crouched by the door of the guesthouse, arms wrapped around her knees, wiping at her tears.

She tugged at the hem of Herman's shirt, her voice thick with sniffles.

"Herman, every time I close my eyes I picture all those poor strays out on the streets."

"If I don't do this tonight, I really won't be able to sleep..."

I stood at the far end of the hallway, watching, and it turned my stomach.

I ignored the whole clinging scene and stepped aside to call my lawyer friend.

"Coco, I need to ask you something. If someone in my group knowingly breaks the law and insists on setting a fire, and I've tried to stop them more than once and failed, do the property owner and the others in the group share liability?"

"And what if I draw a clear line ahead of time and keep the evidence?"

Coco's tone turned serious. She told me to be careful, to stay away from these people.

Then she texted the relevant points of law on liability exemption straight to my phone.

I put my phone away, my face grim.

I walked over to Herman and kept my voice as even as I could.

"Herman, give me the car keys."

"Whatever you all want to do here is your business. I don't want to stay. I'm driving back into the city now."

I didn't lower my voice, and Nadia and Fifi, who were still comforting Carmen, heard every word.

Carmen shot to her feet and grabbed me, as if I'd just dealt her the worst insult of her life.

"You leave now, and you'll go straight to the police! Don't even think about it!"

"You have to come pray for the strays with us!"

I knocked her hand off in one motion.

"Don't touch me. If your head's sick, go get it treated. Don't stand here guilt-tripping me."

"I barely know any of you. I'm under no obligation to go to prison alongside you."

"Maxine, are you done throwing a fit?!"

Herman glared at me, pulled out the keys, and shoved them into Carmen's hand, his voice hard.

"Carmen's keeping the car keys tonight."

"You're not going anywhere tonight. You'll stay right here and behave."

"Carmen spent so long planning this trip. As my fiancée, you should be gracious enough to stay and make room for what she wants."

I was shaking with anger. I stepped forward to snatch the keys back.

"Herman, this is unlawful seizure of someone else's property! What gives you the right to take my car keys?"

Seeing that, Carmen, terrified I'd grab the keys back, snatched up my skincare bag.

Inside was the expensive set I'd eyed for months before I finally let myself buy it.

She sneered, and right in front of me, hurled the bag onto the floor.

Bottles and jars shattered, liquid spreading across the ground.

"That's for bullying me! You heartless witch, your things are as filthy as your heart!"

Carmen planted her hands on her hips, taunting me without a shred of shame.

"Carmen!"

I was livid. I raised my hand to slap her.

But Herman clamped down on my wrist and slammed me into the wall so hard I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Maxine, now you want to hit people?"

"Look at yourself right now, completely out of control. You're acting like a lunatic!"

Then, giving me no chance to speak, he shoved me roughly into a small guest room at the end of the hallway and locked the door behind me.

Through the door, I heard Herman say gently to Carmen.

"Don't mind her, Carmen. Let the girls keep you company tonight. I'll stand guard over her right here. No one's going to bully you."