90 A Witness to a Bitter End
I stared at Alistair as he stood between me and my car. My keys suddenly felt like a useless weight in my hand. *
“Move tried to keep my voice steady, but fear crept in at the edges
Not until you listen. Alistair stepped closer. His cake-stained suit reeked of desperation and expensive cologne.
I glanced toward the building entrance. The doorman had disappeared inside Perfect
timing.
There’s nothing to say.” I gripped my keys tighter, sliding one between my fingers Get out of my way, or I’ll scream.
Alistair laughed bitterly. “Always so dramatic, Hazel.”
“Dramatic?” I hissed. “You’re stalking me outside my grandmother’s building at night!”
He closed the distance between us in two quick strides Before could react, his hands clutched my upper arms.
“I made a mistake” he whispered, his breath hot against my face. “Every day without
you is torture
I tried to pull away but his grip tightened. “Let go of me”
“We belong together” His fingers dug deeper into my flesh. “Six years, Hazel. Six years I’ve loved you
“Loved me?” laughed coldly. “Is that what you call abandoning me at the altar
His face twisted with pain. I was manipulated. Ivy and her family
“Save it “I struggled against his hold. “You’re a grown man who made a choice
A choice I regret every second!
He pulled me against his chest, wrapping his arms arotind me in a forceful embrace His familias scent stade my stomach turn. What once brought comfort How Only triggered hisgust
With all my strength. Ishoved him away. “Don’t touch me!”
He stumbled backward, surprise flashing across his face. “Hazel
“We’re done Alistair straightened my jacket, ‘Accept it?
His eyes narrowed. “It’s him, isn’t it? Sebastian Sinclair
The accusation caught me off guard. “What?”
“Don’t play innocent” Anger darkened his features. “Ive seen him at your place. All night
My find raced. Sebastian had visited my apartment twice-once to deliver documents, another time to discuss business over dinner Nothing more
But the jealousy burning in Alistair’s eyes sparked something wicked inside me. If he wanted to believe I’d moved on, why not let him? It might be the knife that finally cut him loose
I smoothed my hair and smiled coolly. “What Sebastian and I do is none of your concern.”
His face contorted. “So you admit it?”
Admit what?” I stepped closer, dropping my voice to a provocative whisper That I’ve slept with him? Multiple times?”
Alistair flinched as if I’d slapped him. “You’re lying.”
“Am I let my smile widen. “He’s quite remarkable, actually Those hands… that body. I trailed off suggestively
“Stop it “His voice shook with rage.
“Why? Does it hurt to imagine another man touching me? Kissing me?” I pressed harder the lies flowing easily “Making me feel things you never could
His face flushed crimson: “You’ve become cheap he spat “Trading yourself for his money and influence
The accusation, shing but I maintained my facade. “That’s new coming from the man who married my stepsister for what? Pity Or was it her father’s connections you were after
“I loved you the shouted, fists clenched at his sides I gave you everything
“Except yourself” The words shipped out before could stop them. Five years of your dliness, Abstamm Five years where you couldn’t even touch me And the one year you were healthy, you left me for her
His face drained of color. We never spoke about those years-his mysterious blood disorder, the countless transfusions, my donations that kept him alive
“That’s not fair, he whispered.
“Neither was watching you marry my stepsister in my wedding dress.”
Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken pain.
“I’ll never sign those divorce papers,” he finally said, voice cold. “Never”
I brushed past him toward my car. “You don’t have a choice?
There’s always a choice. Hazel. His words followed me like a threat. “Remember that.”
Tunlocked my car with trembling hands, desperate to escape. As I slid into the driver’s seat. noticed the sleek black Bentley parked beside me. Its tinted windows revealed nothing, but I knew someone sat inside-someone who had likely heard every word of our ugly confrontation
My cheeks burned with humiliation. I’d stooped to cruel lies about Sebastian to hurt Alistair, and now some stranger-possibly someone important given the luxury vehicle -had witnessed my pettiness.
Istarted the engine and pulled away quickly, watching Alistairs rigid figure shrink in my rearview mirror. The Bentley remained motionless, its mysterious occupant hidden from view
Only when Furned the corner did the reality of what I’d done hit me I’d used Sebastian–a man who had shown me nothing but respect as a weapon in thy war against Alistair (d fabricated an intimate relationship to inflict pain.
Worse, Id revealed the most painful truth of our relationship- Abstair’s illness and my role as his lifesaver in a moment of vengeful anger
At a red fight I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel shame washing over me Ed become someone I didrer os ognize someone who used hes about sex and
cruel truths about illness as ainmunition
The light turned green, but my vision blurted with tears. I pulled over hands shaking
too badly to drive
Who was becoming in this battle with my past? And what would I say if I ever came face to lace with whoever had been sitting in that Bentley, witness to my bitter end
with the man Lonce loved?
