Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 75

"She was wrong," Hazel said, her voice terrifyingly calm as she looked at them. "I did it on purpose."

Julian bolted up and grabbed Hazel's wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he was going to snap her bones.

He gritted his teeth, forcing the words out of his throat. "Apologize, Hazel! How can you just strike people like a lunatic? Did nobody ever teach you manners? Do you think it's okay to just hit someone?"

Hazel froze.

She stared at Julian's rage-contorted face, nearly forgetting how to breathe.

Nobody ever taught her...

He knew she grew up in a family that entirely favored her brother, a household where she was invisible. That had once been the very thing he pitied her for the most. He had promised to teach her what it meant to be loved.

Now, he was using that exact vulnerability as a weapon to destroy her, all to protect another woman.

Her heart felt as if it had been forcefully hurled against the ground, shattering into a million pieces.

"What did you just say, Julian?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, absolute disbelief washing over her features.

Julian was too blinded by fury to notice the shift in her expression. "Apologize to Evelyn right now! Do you want everyone to think you're crazy? If you ever randomly hit someone like this again, I won't let you off this easily. An apology won't cut it next time."

Hazel looked at him, feeling every ounce of energy drain from her body. She pulled at her lips to form a hollow smile, lacking even the strength to speak. She lowered her head, lost in her own devastating thoughts.

Evelyn tugged gently at Julian's sleeve, her voice soft. "Forget it, Julian. I don't need an apology."

Hazel took a deep breath, suppressing the violent surge of emotions in her chest. "I'm sorry."

A flash of triumph crossed Evelyn's eyes, though she kept up her magnanimous act. "It's fine, Hazel. Just try to control your temper next time—"

She didn't get to finish.

Smack!

Her throat burned, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She bit her lip, fighting desperately to hold them back.

She couldn't cry. She was no longer the weak, easily manipulated girl she used to be.

She was running so fast that as she rounded the corner, she slammed right into a solid chest.

The familiar scent of pine wood filled her senses. She looked up, her tear-blurred vision meeting a pair of deep, assessing eyes.

Marcus stood there, gazing down at her. His slightly upturned eyes held a profound depth she couldn't decipher.

She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat felt blocked. She couldn't utter a single sound.

Without warning, the tears finally spilled over, rolling silently down her cheeks.