"You are," Marek said, trying to pull away. But she held her ground.
"You can't keep defending her," Rowena pressed on. "She's not better than me, Marek. She's not better than anyone. You think she's pure, but she's just confused. And you're suffering for it."
"Enough," he said sharply.
But Rowena didn't stop. "She's never going to love you the way you love her. You know that, don't you?"
"Stop it," he said again.
"You're wasting your heart on someone who doesn't deserve it."
He slammed his palm on the desk. "I said stop!"
Rowena flinched slightly, but then her expression softened again. "You're angry," she said calmly. "I get it. You've been holding it in for too long." She took a step closer, her eyes on his. "You don't have to keep pretending, Marek."
"Pretending that what?"
"That you're fine. That you are not hurt." She said.
