I tell them to meet me in an hour and don’t even glance back at my father’s table when I come out of the restroom. I head straight for the door, texting my driver.

A woman bumps into me on her way in. I lift my head, starting to apologize—then stop when our eyes meet.

I should have known he’d invited her too.

I glance down at her left hand and there it is. The ring. Suddenly, it all feels too real. I take a breath but feel my shoulders heave.

She tries a smile and starts to say something, but I brush past her, knocking her bare shoulder with mine.

I want to shove the bitch with both hands, but I don’t. Too many eyes. Too many ears.

I hear her scoff behind me and keep walking out the door. My driver texts me back, telling me to give him five minutes, he stepped away for a bathroom break.

I turn down a small side street and find the Audi. Just as I’m about to pull open the door, a strong hand catches my arm and turns me around.

My father pins me against the car, his expression a hard wall of contempt, but I make out a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” His voice is soft, but not in a kind way, the razor-sharp words cutting straight through the core of me.

I grit my teeth and draw back my arm, but he won’t loosen his grip.

“Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can do whatever you want and get away with it, don’t you?”

His eyes flicker with anger, and then I realize that bitch must have said something to him and sent him after me.

My jaw clenches. “Let me go.”

He doesn’t let go. He grips me harder.

“Don’t embarrass me,” he hisses, each word tight and clipped, a rubber band about to snap, like he’s scared someone might hear.

It only makes me want to be louder.

I frown, heat collecting in my chest, thickening my words. “She’s more than half your age. You’re embarrassing yourself. Let me—”

His free hand flies up to meet my face. The hit throws my head to the side. I feel it in my ear first, a prickly, tingling sensation, spreading slowly, then heat flashes across my cheek like a hot iron against my skin. I go still from the shock of it, the humiliation of it, then stare up at him, refusing to look away. But he doesn’t meet my eyes. He’s busy glancing around to see if anyone saw.

There’s no one here. We’re tucked too far away from the main street. But I wish everyone could witness the monster he really is.