Brooke was stunned. She looked up from the ground where she had fallen, surprised that Brandon was there and he had pushed her away just to protect Lyse.
"Why are you trying to hit her?" He demanded, his face contorted with rage.
"How could you?" Brooke cried, her voice barely a whisper. "She is a liar, a manipulator. She has been playing you all along and you are going to defend her?"
Brandon rolled his eyes. "Spare me your theatrics, Brooke. Lyse is a good person. She's been through a lot at your hand and i might have believed you before but I know better now."
With that, he turned his attention back to Lyse, who was watching the exchange with a mixture of surprise at Brandon standing up for her. He had always been inclined to believe other people over her, and she wondered about this shocking change in him.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle and when he reached out for her, Lyse took a cautious step back.
