Chapter 3

I tried to escape, tried to pull my wrist free, but Hadden backed me into a corner instead.

He grabbed my chin, about to kiss me, but in a sudden burst, I wrenched myself away and slapped him hard. The crisp smack rang out in the elevator.

He froze, and so did I.

During the three years of our secret relationship and ten years in my previous life, not once did I even speak harshly to Hadden, not to mention ever hitting him.

Even when Priscilla started badmouthing Hadden in front of me, I'd always jump in to defend him, talking him up and saying only good things. Then I'd act all offended and make Priscilla promise not to say anything bad about him ever again.

Back then, he was truly the one I cherished most.

"Why are you so upset?" Hadden said, his brows knitting together.

"Me, upset?" I scoffed, my laugh cold. "Guess I should be calling you brother-in-law now, huh?

"If word gets out that you're kissing your sister-in-law in here, how do you think that'll make Jane look?"

Hadden paused, then said seriously, "No one's going to talk.

"No one would dare, unless they want to be run out of Erisia."

"So you're having an affair?!" I shot back, totally stunned. Even though I always knew Hadden was the possessive, controlling type, I still couldn't wrap my head around this.

Hadden frowned, clearly bristling at being called a cheater.

His thumb traced lazy circles on my wrist, his other hand still gripping my chin. "Are you pissed?

"What are you so upset about? Is it because of me and Jane?"

I didn't say anything. All I could think was how pathetic this all was.

Falling for Hadden was pathetic, and being the one he loved, like Jane, was just as pathetic.

"Eleanor, did you forget what I told you the day we started dating?" Hadden asked.

I paused, then suddenly laughed, a bitter edge to it.

Of course, I hadn't forgotten. I remembered every word Hadden ever said to me. He told me, "The woman I marry has to be worthy of the title Mrs. Males. She needs to be gentle, considerate, and kind."

So for all those years, I bent over backwards to become that woman, but it was never enough for Hadden.

"I remember," I told him. "That's why I walked away."

Hadden looked at me as if he genuinely found my words amusing, one eyebrow raised, his touch never faltering.

"Eleanor, don't mess with me," he said.

"Whatever's going on with Jane, it doesn't change anything between us."

I looked up, meeting his gaze head-on. "But I can't share you with Jane."

"Hadden, it's your call. If you choose Jane, then we're done, starting today. If you choose me, then go tell everyone right now that you love me and you're going to marry me.

"You can't have it all, Hadden," I said.

As the words left my lips, I didn't even blink, but a prickle of pain was already spreading through my chest.

My fingers curled tight, nails biting into my palm, leaving little crescents behind.

Just like in my previous life, I kept pushing him, testing him over and over. I knew exactly what Hadden would say, knew he'd never pick me, but I still couldn't help myself.

The elevator was filled with a tense silence.

It wasn't until the elevator dinged at the top floor that the quiet was shattered.

Hadden's lips curled into a subtle, confident smile, like he owned the whole damn world.

He let go of me, stepped back, and held his hands out.

"Eleanor, are you sure about this?" he asked.

"You were the one who couldn't let me go, the one who fell for me, the one who kept chasing after me for three years," he said.

"Are you really sure you want to end this?"

His tone was cold as ice, and when he looked at me, his eyes were just as frosty.

It felt exactly like déjà vu from my previous life. I went totally crazy, yelling at him, "Why are you marrying Jane? Wasn't I the one you loved most?

"Why would you make me fall for you, only to turn around and marry someone else?"

I completely broke down, shouting and sobbing, making a huge scene. Everyone just stared at me like I was pathetic.

People called me shameless, said I had no self-respect.

Hadden just looked at me like I was beneath him.

Then he shot back, "Did I ever seduce you? Did I ever sweet-talk you?

"Didn't I tell you straight up? I don't love you, and I never will."

In that moment, it felt like my whole world was crashing down.

Then I kept going over it in my mind. Hadden was right. He never once said he loved me. When I confessed, he just shot me down.

I was the one who threw myself at him, no shame at all.

I was the one who begged him, "I'll be your secret lover if that's all you want."

I loved him so much, I gave up everything, even myself.

So in the end, Jane had to put her own life on the line just to make it happen for me.

"Eleanor." Hadden's voice snapped me out of it. "Once you say something, you can't take it back."

"Then I'm not taking it back," I said, calm and unflinching.

Hadden stared at me for a long moment, a faint, mocking chuckle escaping his lips. He slipped one hand into his pocket, his face icy, and walked out of the elevator.

He never once looked back.

But his steps were slow, almost reluctant.