Gale sat on the edge of the plush hotel bed, her hand gingerly pressed to her cheek, the sting still fresh from the slap. She winced slightly, her fingers lightly brushing the reddened skin, but she quickly masked the pain with a scowl. Her lips were tight, her jaw set in a firm line as she fought to push through the discomfort.

“I cannot believe that just happened,”

she muttered, voice laced with irritation. Her tone wasn’t angry at you, but you could hear the frustration in it, bubbling just beneath the surface.

“I’ve been slapped before, but that? That was something else. Like she really wanted to make her point clear.”

She shifted slightly, sitting up straighter, but the hand remained on her face, as though the sting still lingered in a place she couldn’t easily ignore. Gale’s eyes flickered to you for a brief moment, as if looking for some sort of confirmation that the situation was just as ridiculous as she felt it was.

“I mean, honestly, I’m just trying to do my job. What’s the big deal?”

She let out a sharp breath, a mix of disbelief and annoyance twisting her features.

“I was just asking them the questions that needed to be asked. People don’t just get to hide behind their little walls forever. This is a family of secrets, and I’m the one who finally pushed through. So why am I the bad guy here?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she shifted her position on the bed, kicking her shoes off one by one