Hazel's POV
Had Bryce left, then come back because he was worried after all?
The thought was gone in less than a second because I crushed it myself.
I remembered his cold, cruel text too well. How could a man who'd mocked me when I begged him for help save me? He’d only watched me coldly, waiting for me to crawl back to him in despair.
Weakness washed over me, and another face popped into my mind. A face that always wore a playful smile, but had something deeper hiding in the corners of his eyes. He used to show up out of nowhere whenever someone picked on me. He'd step right in front of me and raise an eyebrow at everyone around.
"She's mine. Who dares touch her?"
But that hadn't happened in six years.
My eyes filled with tears immediately. I shut them tight, trying to push that fa
