The moment he drew breath she ran.
She’d spent the entire evening digging through his lies and evasions.
but it was his face.
She’d gone behind his back. Went through his things. Cornered him. Interrogated him. Then held him at gunpoint. All the things she swore she’d never do again.
He’d berated her. Gaslit her. Reminded her of how selfish and callous she could be. He’d reminded her just how cold her heart could get.
daring her to pull the trigger.
He knew her, only Victor could know all these ways to hurt her. All these private moments, all her slipups.
She slipped out a window and landed softly before dashing into the garden where she didn’t have to face him after that. She just… couldn’t, not right now. He had everyone else, loving hugs and bright warmth to welcome him home. She was too broken after that encounter. She didn't want him to see how much it hurt her. So, she ran.
and in that space, she’d just had her heart rended and it all felt the same.