"You're worse than an animal," I spat, voice trembling. "No—that insults animals. You should've spent your life in the gutter, scavenging rotting scraps."
His jaw tightened, but I wasn't done. I wanted to bleed him.
"Your parents must've known what a monster they raised. That's why they died early—to escape the shame. You don't deserve to eat trash, let alone stand here like a human being."
My words found their mark, piercing straight to the insecurity he'd harbored since childhood. Veins bulged on his neck. A red haze clouded his eyes.
He lunged, hand clamping around my throat. He threw me to the ground.
"Grace Sullivan, you've finally said it." He loomed over me like a shadow. "You've always looked down on me."
He straightened his cuffs, voice dropping to a terrifying calm. "Since you refuse to learn your place, you can go back and relearn it. I have plenty of time."
He pulled out his phone.
My heart slammed against my ribs. Cold sweat broke over my skin. I knew that tone. I knew where he was sending me.
I crawled forward, abandoning pride, and grabbed his pant leg. "Victor, no... please. I won't go back there. I can't go back to the asylum!"
He didn't even look at me.