CLAUDE
"I see it," he said, and my heart stopped.
For a second-just one reckless second-I thought he meant me. Saw me. The real me. The one who he used smile at. The one who wanted him, craved him more than was reasonable or sane.
I held onto that second like it could save me.
But then his voice dropped, lips pulling back in a sneer.
"I see exactly what you are, Claude. A mistake. A good f**k. And a damn scam."
The words didn't just land-they destroyed. They ripped through me, leaving jagged, painful ache in their wake. My chest felt like it was going to break and my throat tightened, my eyes burned.
I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. His words crushed me, but his gaze still held me captive.
Nikolai crouched in front of me, one hand resting on his knee, the other
