Chapter 16
As this realization dawned on Roman, a surge of anger rose within him.
Combined with the humiliation of being forced to kneel before Dominic days earlier, this new resentment ignited into fury. Old grudges and fresh wounds burned away his rational thought.
He lashed out recklessly: “Hazel Bennett, did you ever truly love me? When my father cheated, my mother suffered terribly but never divorced him until her death. But you? You’ve barely been gone a few days and you’re already this cozy with him. Were you. Were you sleeping with Dominic Lloyd all along?!”
Before he could finish, Dominic lunged forward and delivered a solid punch to his face.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re insulting?!” he snarled. “Not everyone is as despicable as you! Have you no shame?!”
Hazel actually laughed, astounded by Roman’s audacity.
“Roman Winters, I deeply regret ever agreeing to be with you.”
“You know how much pain and despair your mother endured after your father’s affair! You claimed to despise cheaters, yet what did you do? You couldn’t resist temptation either, sleeping with Naomi Jensen time and again!”
‘You think I’m too calm about this? You’re the one who cheated, you’re the one who did wrong. Why should I punish myself for your mistakes?”
She stared him down, her tone scathing.
‘Besides, who the hell do you think you are that I’d sacrifice my life for you?”
Facing Hazel’s icy gaze, Roman felt as if a giant hand were crushing his heart, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Yet he couldn’t refute a single word she’d said.
Watching Hazel walking away, Roman collapsed to his knees in despair, covering his eyes as he released an anguished howl.
Back home, Hazel drank a full glass of hot water before finally regaining her composure.
She looked regretfully at the takeout containers. “This food was really delicious. I wanted you to try it while it was still hot, but unfortunately, it’s all
old now…”
Before she could finish, Dominic had already started unwrapping the food.
Perfect timing-I’m starving! And I actually prefer cold dishes. Hazel, you’re way too good to me. I’m falling even harder for you now!”
Hazel knew he was deliberately trying to cheer her up.
She smiled, walking over to take the containers and heading toward the kitchen.
‘Stop joking around. Let me heat this up properly. I don’t want you getting sick and making me play nurse at the hospital.”
Seeing her mood improve, Dominic finally relaxed.
In the following days, Roman stationed himself outside Hazel’s door every day, rain or shine. He seemed determined to wait until she changed her
mind.
However, while Hazel had initially shown visible disgust at his presence, she soon began treating him like a complete stranger.
That weekend, Dominic bought a new camera and insisted on taking Hazel to the park for a photo shoot.
Unable to refuse his enthusiasm, she finally agreed to be his model. They spent the entire afternoon taking pictures.
As Hazel posed for one final shot in the sunset, a disheveled woman suddenly charged from the shadows, raising a knife high above her head as she lunged toward her.
