Married to a Man Who Loved Someone Else

Chapter 6

When Hazel regained consciousness, she found herself back in a hospital room. Her gaze wandered weakly across the sterile space until it landed on a young nurse adjusting her IV drip.

She tried to sit up, her voice coming out rough and dry. "Where's Dr. Blake?"

The nurse hesitated, her eyes darting away. "Dr. Blake is with Miss Spencer. He said she was frightened and needed him nearby."

Hazel went still for a moment, then her lips curved into a humorless smile.

Of course. When it came to Liora, she was always an afterthought.

The door burst open a few minutes later, and Elena stormed in like a small hurricane, her face flushed with outrage.

"Hazel! Oh my God, you've been through hell. Framed, humiliated, literally spitting blood from sheer fury, and that ice-cold bastard just stood there and let it happen! I'm so angry I could scream!"

Elena's voice rose with each word as she grabbed Hazel's cold hands in her own.

"You've loved that man for years. How could he not know who you really are? He knows you'd never sink to something so low!"

Hazel looked down at their joined hands.

Even casual acquaintances at the club understood her integrity.

But Christian, her husband in name only, had refused to believe her.

She opened her mouth to reassure Elena, but before she could get a word out, several handsome young men filed into the room. Elena waved them forward with a flourish.

"Forget about that cold-hearted jerk today!" Elena declared triumphantly. "Look at all this eye candy. A whole pack of younger guys, just waiting to cheer you up. Take your pick!"

Hazel blinked at the row of fresh-faced men, all of them smiling warmly at her.

And yet, absurdly, all she could see was Christian's frozen expression.

She had to be losing her mind.

The young men clustered around Hazel's bed, calling her "honey" in sweet, affectionate tones. One brought her coffee, another whispered comforting words, and one actually knelt down to massage her legs.

Hazel managed a faint, strained smile and was about to wave them off,

The hospital door slammed open so hard it bounced off the wall.

Christian stood in the doorway, his face dark with fury, radiating cold menace.

"If you don't want me to call the police and have you arrested for solicitation," he bit out, "get out. Now."

The young men scattered like leaves in a storm. Even Elena shot Hazel an apologetic glance before slipping hastily out the door.

Hazel opened her mouth to speak, but Christian crossed the room in three long strides and seized her wrist.

She pulled back instinctively. "Christian, let go of me!"

The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became.

"Hazel, what the hell do you think you're doing?" He leaned in close, his voice low and seething. "I put up with your usual antics, but in your condition, you're sneaking around with male escorts? Let me remind you, I'm your husband. If you need something, you come to me. What, am I not enough for you now?"

Hazel went still.

This was the first time Christian had ever shown anger on her account.

But then yesterday's events flashed through her mind, and a bitter laugh escaped her.

"My husband? Then where were you when I was being framed? Where were you when I collapsed in the hospital after vomiting blood from rage?"

At her accusation, something flickered in Christian's eyes. Guilt, maybe.

His grip loosened slightly, and he straightened. "That situation... I'll find a way to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?" Hazel stared at him, momentarily speechless.

Then her gaze drifted past him to the hospital room door.

Liora stood just outside, her delicate face pale with distress, tears pooling in her eyes as she watched them.

An idea sparked in Hazel's mind.

She pushed herself up, wound her arms around Christian's neck, and pressed her lips to his.

For a split second, he went completely rigid.

But Hazel's eyes stayed open just long enough to catch Liora's reaction through the doorway. Her face crumpled. She covered her mouth and fled.

Hazel pulled back, satisfied.

Then Christian turned and saw Liora retreating.

His expression hardened. Without a word, he pulled away from Hazel's grasp and moved toward the door.

"Christian." Hazel's voice cut through the room, trembling but clear. "If you walk through that door, we're done."

His footsteps faltered.

For just a moment.

"Liora's been emotionally fragile lately," he said without turning around. "After what she just saw, I can't let her misunderstand." And then he was gone, rushing down the hall after her.

Hazel stared blankly as the door swung slowly shut.

Misunderstand?

What was there to misunderstand about a wife kissing her own husband?