For some inexplicable reason, Joan didn't dare look Larry in the eye.
“Dustin?” Larry scoffed with his eyes filled with contempt. He continued to pressure Joan until she had her back against the wall. “He really hasn't given up, has he.”
Joan looked at Larry fearfully, his anger visibly reaching its limit. His voice carried with it a hellish tone. “Do you know how preposterous it sounds when Dustin uses the word 'friends'?”
“Why must you insist on seeing him in such a negative light?” Joan retorted as she gently shoved him away.
When Larry saw that she pushed him on account of Dustin instead of apologizing, he fell into a jealous rage and blocked her escape with his
arms.
“Are you defending him? Are you regretting that you didn't leave with him one year ago? And now that he is back, you can't help but want to leave with him?” Larry crumpled the note in his hand and hurled it forcefully against the wall, causing it to ricochet away.
Joan couldn't believe what Larry had accused her of. She assumed after what they had been through, both of them would become more mature and trusting of each other. However, she didn't expect their trust to have broken down so easily.
Briefly stunned, she asked him, “Larry, don't you trust me? Does this mean you're doubting me?”
“Yes!” Larry was never one to hide his words. “Don't think that I'm not aware of the rumors swirling around. Putting aside the fact I don't
believe in you, what about you? What have you done for me?”
Larry's thundering voice shook Joan to her core. Despite the innumerable things she wanted to say, she calmed herself down when she saw how hysterical Larry had become.
“There's nothing for me to explain. If you don't believe me, just forget it. Larry, let go of me. Both of us need to calm down.”
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