The sudden question caught Ziya completely off guard. She froze on the spot, nearly dropping the innocent mask she'd worn for so long.
Her eyes reddened instantly, tears welling up as if on command. She choked out, her voice thick with feigned hurt, "Jaxsen, what are you talking about? How could I ever do something like that? Did Yeya say something bad about me? She's lying, isn't she? We've known each other for years—you're really gonna take some outsider's word over mine?"
Jaxsen stared quietly at her crocodile tears, feeling nothing but cold indifference in his chest.
Whatever fondness he'd once held for her had dissipated completely.
When he'd turned back and chosen Ziya back then, it had been nothing but stupid, stubborn pride talking.
But now? He'd judged people wrong, mixed up
