You f*cked me in front of him, right?

Francisco clutched Hazel tightly as her body went limp, her sudden collapse shocking him more than he let on. Her fragile frame fit perfectly into his arms, her face pale, lips slightly parted as if caught between a breath. His heart raced, but he forced himself to breathe deeply, to stay calm. He lowered his head, his lips brushing against her forehead, a gesture of tenderness that contradicted the dark turmoil within him.

"Why don’t you understand, Hazel?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, as he held her close. The warmth of her skin against his made his chest tighten.

"I told you not to betray me, honey."

He stared down at her, unconscious and vulnerable, and something inside him wavered. He hadn't anticipated that her deception would cut this deep.

His hand trembled slightly as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"But you pretended with me," he continued, his voice breaking ever so slightly. "I didn’t even think it was all your acting, Hazel. It seemed so real."

His gaze