And yet, here I was, standing face to face with the man I had spent years trying to forget.
I tore my gaze away, reminding myself of the truth—the truth that should have made this entire conversation irrelevant. He was married. He had a child… or maybe even children, if he had chosen to grow his perfect little family with her.
This conversation shouldn’t even be happening.
“I don’t owe you any explanation, Mr. Hayes.” My voice was tight, clipped, controlled. “So quit trying to demand one from me.”
His entire body went rigid, his eyes widening slightly before something unreadable flickered across his face.
“Mr. Hayes?” he choked out. “Did you just f*****g use my last name to address me?”
I didn’t answer. There was no point in answering.
Instead, I turned my attention to the approachi
