Chapter 3
Watching them walk away, I actually started laughing. This was the man I’d wasted three years of my life loving.
Then the dam broke, and I just crumpled. All the fight went out of me at once, and I couldn’t stop the tears.
After I pulled myself together, I took an Uber to the hospital alone.
The sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air as I slumped exhausted in one of those uncomfortable waiting room. chairs.
I must have dozed off, because I woke up to familiar voices.
When I opened my eyes, there were Mason and Bree walking in together. He had his arm around her waist, all tender and protective, like she was made of glass.
Mason spotted me and walked over.
“Hazel? What are you doing here?”
When he saw how pale I looked and I didn’t answer, his tone got softer.
“Look, I’m not actually mad at you, okay? We can still get married. Just apologize to Bree when we get back, and we’ll call it even.”
I stared at this stranger wearing my boyfriend’s face, wondering when exactly he’d changed. Before Bree showed up, he wasn’t like this.
He used to stay up all night when I was sick, always had heating pads ready when I was on my period.
He used to talk about our future together. But once Bree entered the picture, all of that just… vanished.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Why the hell would I apologize to her?”
Mason looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Hazel, I saw you push Bree with my own eyes. You’re seriously asking me why you should apologize?”
“I was gonna let it slide since you followed us here, but if you’re gonna be this stubborn about it, maybe we need to
take a break. Cool off for a while.”
I watched them leave hand–in–hand, and all I could think was how blind I’d been.
When Bree first showed up six months ago, Mason fed me this whole story about her being his “junior from grad school” and how their relationship was “totally innocent” even though they were attached at the hip.
But every single time he had to choose between me and Bree, he picked her. Every damn time.
Then he’d gaslight me afterward, saying I was “being jealous” and “if we had something going on, we’d already be
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Chapter 3
together.”
I never knew how to respond to that manipulation.
Now I could see they’d been playing house while hiding behind this “friend” bullshit, and I was too stupid to notice.
What a piece of garbage.
After getting my rabies shots, I crashed at a nearby hotel for the night.
The next day, I called a realtor to list the condo. While I was mindlessly scrolling social media, Bree’s vacation photos popped up.
Her caption read: Getting hurt isn’t the problem – having someone who cares about your pain is what matters.
I remembered how Mason used to cook elaborate dinners whenever he’d screwed up.
He always said, “A man only cooks for the woman he truly loves.”
Back then, I was so touched by those words. I thought I’d found my soulmate.
Now, seeing him jet off on romantic getaways with Bree, I realized those “romantic gestures” were just his way of shutting me up.
While I was drowning in memories, Mason called.
“Hey babe, Bree’s decided to forgive you. Since you’re too proud to apologize face–to–face, just cook us a nice dinner when we get back and we’ll call it even. Oh, and Hazel? As compensation, you’ll need to give up your bedroom for
Bree.”
His tone was so condescending, like he was doing me some huge favor. “Bree’s being really mature about this whole
thing.”
I replied flatly: “I’m not apologizing to her, and I’m definitely not cooking. So please, don’t forgive me.”
“Hazel, you’re being ridiculous! Don’t come crawling back to me in a few days!”
I couldn’t blame him for being so confident I’d cave. In every fight we’d ever had, I was always the one who apologized first. He’d ignore my feelings until I gave up and begged for his forgiveness.
But this time, I was done playing that game.
Mason yelled something and hung up.
That’s when River texted me, saying he’d be back from his business trip in a couple days and wanted to visit Mom in the hospital.
A warm feeling spread through my chest. I asked for his flight details, planning to surprise him at the airport.
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Chapter 4
Chapter 4
