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name; it was rejected the moment the officer saw the Mitchum name.
    “Mom”—I regarded my mother, clinging tightly to her hand—“Reese isn’t feeling well. I really should go.”
    “Nonsense,” she balked, removing my hand from hers. “You two haven’t seen each other in years. Catch up.” She gave me a nod and disappeared into the crowd.
    Gregory’s cocky demeanor returned and sent revolting shocks up my spine. “You look gorgeous, Keaton,” he offered. “You really…grew into your shape. I’ve seen it from afar, but being able to be with you, close like this, I can really appreciate it.”
    The corners of my mouth turned down in disgust. Without a goodbye, I turned to leave. He caught my elbow, stopping me.  
    I knew how to play the part and never make a scene. It was drilled into my head so often, the action was effortless, and sometimes it hindered me from what I should’ve done, run and make a scene.
    “Come with me. We should talk.” He pulled me, coercing my reluctant feet to follow him.

    Standing on the roof terrace, I looked out at the Potomac River, shoving back memories that made me want to cry.
    “I think about you so much it kills me, Keaton.” He firmed his hold on my wrists; his eyes softened and glazed over. “Why are you punishing me? I’ve apologized for four years. Do you know how much you’re hurting me by being this way? Stop being a bitch to me. It drives me fucking nuts when you ignore me.”
    As I closed my eyes, the tears began to spill down my cheeks.
    He shushed me, running his hand up my arm, causing a burning sensation that was far from pleasurable. “Don’t do that, angel. I love you; you know that. All I want to do is take care of you and for us to be together.”
    I receded from him, turning my back on him. “Why can’t you leave me alone?”
    He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to turn around and held me tightly against his form. “I made a mistake. I know that. I know you’ve forgiven me. You could’ve reported me, but you didn’t.”
    “Because I believed you!” Sobbing, I lifted my gaze to his face. Rage and disgust became a brewing storm, ready to unleash on him at a moment’s notice. “I didn’t want to ruin my parents’ careers.”
    “You were smart to listen to me, but come on.” His hands slipped up to hold my head in a vice grip, preventing my retreat. “I got a little carried away one night, but with what we had? Don’t you think you’ve tortured me enough?”
    My body shook with anger and hatred. I found it hard to stare into the face of the monster who tainted my soul and devoured who I used to be. Subsequent to hollowing me out, he had returned to taunt me further. His words were outright lies. We had nothing. He was a jock I stupidly lusted over in high school. When he took me to my Cotillion, he treated me like a princess and I thought he was my prince charming. While there were times his explosive behavior made me question his nature, I pushed it aside and tried to see the best in him.  
    On the day of my eighteenth birthday, the night of my graduation, I quickly discovered that there was nothing good about Gregory Mitchum.
    “In a few years,” he began, wearing a prideful smile, “I’m going to run for city council. I’m doing my time, working in a law firm, building up my contacts. I can take you to all the places you wanted to go. You don’t have to rely on your parents. Just stop…” He reached out to touch me. I backed away. In response, he lunged forward, forcing me into his arms. “…ignoring me.”
    Bile rose in my throat, choking me and making it difficult to speak.
    “You know I’ll never give up until you’re by my side. I love you.”
    “Love?” I questioned, my voice quiet and hoarse, expressing my incredulity toward what he considered as love. “Is that what you call what you did to me?”
    “I had to teach you a lesson. Lesson learned, right? It’s been too long, Keaton. I’m done waiting your