As she glanced at me, I caught a flash of satisfied mockery in her eyes. I wrenched Tristan's hand off and faced him.
"Do you remember the vows at our wedding?" I pressed.
His arm around Hillary stiffened imperceptibly.
"You promised to protect me and my family forever—to keep us safe. But you're the one who hit me, and you let Hillary hurt my family. Tristan—are your promises worth so little?"
Panic flickered in his eyes, but Hillary cut in before he could answer. "Meredith, don't blame Tristan. It's all my fault... If you want someone to vent on, come at me."
On hearing that, Tristan pulled her even closer. When he looked at me, his expression had smoothed back to calm. "Meredith, I know you've been through a lot and you need to vent. I understand—but don't involve Hillary."
His voice was firm, and it was no longer meant for me.
The man who once sheltered me now shielded another woman without hesitation. A sharp, hot pain stabbed my chest. Watching their exchanged looks of concern, I felt disgusted and betrayed.
"Don't think one or two soft words will silence me," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm not a saint—when I was stabbed, I won't say it's okay."