“It’s nothing. I just happened to run into you and Valerie. How do you think this happened?”
Blayne’s grip tightened. “What do you mean? You’re saying Vee hit you?”
“What else?”
She lifted her head, meeting his gaze head-on, unwavering.
“Blayne! Terri! What are you two talking about? Why aren’t you coming over?”
Valerie approached them, but when she saw the slap marks on Terri’s face, she gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
“What happened? Terri, I told you I don’t blame you—why would you hurt yourself like this?”
Blayne’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”
Valerie sighed and explained, “After I left the country, Terri took my place by your side. She kept bringing up the past, saying she felt guilty toward me. I told her I didn’t blame her, but she wouldn’t believe it. She even grabbed my hand and made me slap her! She got so emotional that I had to get out of the car.”
She hesitated, then looked troubled. “And… she squeezed my wrist too hard. She left a bruise.”
Blayne’s face hardened instantly. He stepped forward. “Let me see.”
Terri was shoved aside, stumbling slightly.
Standing behind them, she watched as Blayne’s concern for Valerie played out before her eyes.