"Enough lies, Nikolai. I'm done with the pretending." Her voice was raw, stripped of pretense. The bathroom light cast harsh shadows across her face, highlighting the redness around her eyes that makeup couldn't hide.
Nikolai stepped closer, his pulse quickening at her proximity despite the tension hanging between them. His eyes searched hers, noting the tiny flecks of gold in her irises that always appeared when she was upset. "I'm not lying, Alex. Not now. Not anymore." He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "Tell me who hurt you like this. Please."
She laughed bitterly, a sound that felt like sandpaper against his heart. Her fingers clutched the white towel around her chest like armor, knuckles turning pale with pressure. Droplets of water from her shower still clung to her colla
