“Because that right doesn’t belong to you anymore.” Her voice had dropped lower now, the anger underneath it tightening every word. “You lost that right years ago.”
I watched her carefully.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
The certainty in her tone was impressive. Also complete bullshit. A slow breath left my chest.
“Do you really think,” I said, my voice rougher now, “that after five fucking years of trying to figure out where the hell you disappeared to, after finally finding you on a stage halfway across the world, I’m just going to smile politely and let you walk away again?”
Her eyes flashed.
“You didn’t lose me,” she said, her voice breaking harsh and wounded. “You lied to me. Cheated me. Made me feel stupid for loving you.” She stepped closer, every word sharper now. “You fucking betrayed me.”
The word cut cleanly through the room. I didn’t deny it.
“You’re right,” I said. That answer caught her off guard for a moment.
“You hid everything,” she continued, anger rising now that the words had begun spilling out. “Your job offer. Your engagement. You let me believe—”
“I know exactly what I let you believe. And don’t think for a second I haven’t replayed that mistake more times than I can fucking count.”
Her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“You didn’t make a mistake, Hayden. You made a choice.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Oh really?”
I stood slowly from the chair. The movement immediately sharpened the tension between us.
“You think I pushed you away,” I said.
“You did.”
“I lied,” I corrected, the words leaving my mouth with a bitter edge. “And yeah, that was a fucked-up thing to do. Don’t fucking pretend it was that simple, Edwina, just because hating me hurts less than remembering what we were.”
“I don’t need help with that,” she said. “I already hate you. You made sure of it.” “Bullshit.”
The word struck hard between us.
“If you really hated me,” I continued, stepping closer around the desk, “you wouldn’t be standing here looking like you’re trying to decide whether to slap me or kiss me.”
Color rose in her cheeks.
“That’s not—”
“Don’t lie to yourself too, Edwina.”
She took a small step back.
“You’re insufferable,” she snapped. “Absolutely fucking insufferable.”
“Maybe.”
