Hazel’s POV
“What lie have you cooked up this time, Nicholas?”
The words came out sharp, defensive, like a shield I was desperately trying to keep between us. I tried to step back, but the door was already at my back. There was nowhere left to go.
He didn’t let go of my wrist.
“Can you just hear me out?” His voice was low, rough, almost pleading.
“No.” I shook my head, heart hammering. “I don’t want to hear your lies. You just want me to believe that for three years the way you paraded your mistress around like she was your queen…the way you chose her over your actual wife… was all fake? A lie? Take that story somewhere else. I’m not stupid, Nicholas.”
His jaw clenched. Pain flashed across his face—raw, unguarded.
“I know it’s hard to believe,” he said, voice cracking slightly, “but
