CLAIRE
I nodded, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking and my chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped a band around my ribs and was pulling it tighter with every breath I took.
Julian must have noticed because his expression shifted slightly, the cold calculation softening into something that almost looked like concern.
"You need to get out of here," he said, setting his phone down on the counter.
"What?" I looked up at him, confused.
"You need air, space, something other than staring at that screen and watching people tear you apart," he explained, gesturing toward his phone. "If you sit here all morning reading those comments, you'll drive yourself crazy before we even get the chance to fight back."
"I'm fine," I said automatically, even though we both knew it was a lie.
Julian ra
