Both hands were in Max's grasp and he was taking out his anger pretty badly on them.
"Because of the words you said," he continued, "I worked hard, falling into a path I never wished for myself. I wanted to be a better, bigger person and one day shove those words down your throat. I wanted to mock you for looking down on me when all I did was love you. I wanted... To make you suffer the same way I suffered."
Valerie squinted her eyes, winching in pain as the grip on her hands tightened but she could not say anything in retaliation.
This was... Her punishment, wasn't it?
"Yet," he finally looked up and met her eyes, showing a bitter and pained look in them. "...I was oblivious to your true suffering."
Well, that took a drastic turn.