Chapter 12
Colton was drowning in regret.
He had only meant to help Clarissa out of sentiment–they’d grown up together, after all. And Mr. and Mrs. Hays had asked him to find her a place to stay. She had been pampered like royalty her whole life–never lifting a finger.
Living alone? Of course she couldn’t manage.
One day it was a busted pipe, the next a broken light, the day after she couldn’t read the water
meter.
Colton kept stopping by to help. Gradually, he grew used to it. Familiar.
Then one night, she called again, panic in her voice-“The water pipe burst.”
When Colton arrived, he found Clarissa soaking wet, standing in the middle of the mess. Her damp pajamas clung to her curves like a second skin.
He rushed to shut the valve and fix the leak, but by the time everything was cleaned up, it was
already late. His own clothes were drenched as well.
That was when Clarissa asked him to stay the night.
Colton hesitated… and looked at her again.
She stood dripping in the dim light, her gaze laced with something wickedly seductive, curves on full display. It had been over two months since Natalie had gotten pregnant–and Colton hadn’t
touched a woman since.
Desire crept in.
Clarissa walked toward him slowly, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her breath brushed his
ear.
“Colton,” she whispered, “I’ve loved you since we were kids.”
He stiffened, ready to pull away, when she added softly-
“I know it’s Natalie you truly love. I’m not asking for more. Just one night… that’s all I want.”
By the time Colton realized what was happening, he was already on top of her.
He told himself it would be once.
But then came a second time. A third.
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And then, he stopped counting.
Each time he left Clarissa’s place, guilt gnawed at him from the inside. He tried his best to be a good husband to Natalie. He smiled for her, acted the part, kissed her forehead when she wasn’t looking.
But every smile she gave him felt like a blade to his chest.
Yet the moment he was with Clarissa again, buried in her body, the shame melted away, replaced by
a primal high–one that temporarily made him forget everything.
Until the day Clarissa told him–she was pregnant.
And from that moment–everything began to unravel.
The Hays elders found out–and demanded Colton take responsibility.
Natalie had just miscarried. She had been fragile, depressed, and silent.
And then, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood had a “solution” ready.
From that moment on, everything collapsed.
Now, standing in the wreckage of his life, Colton hated himself more than ever.
He hated how easily he’d walked into Clarissa’s trap. Hated that he hadn’t seen her manipulations.
Hated that he had doubted the one woman who loved him purely—Natalie.
But the final blow came unexpectedly.
One afternoon, Natalie’s former supervisor dropped by with a gift, offering his condolences.
“She couldn’t dance anymore,” the man said softly with a sigh, “but she never gave up on herself.”
“She applied to the Lexington Ballet Academy as a lifelong coach. It was a huge opportunity… Such a
loss.”
Colton froze.
“Lexington? In Russia? That would’ve meant she’d be gone permanently…”
“Didn’t she tell you?” the man asked, puzzled. “She looked heartbroken when she submitted the
application–red eyes and all. I thought it was because of you.”
Colton’s breath caught in his throat.
“When… when did she submit it?”
The man handed him a copy of the application.
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Colton’s eyes locked on the date–it was the same day Clarissa had returned to the estate.
“There’s one more thing,” the man said, pulling out an envelope. “She asked me to give you this…
after she left.”
Colton took it with trembling hands and forced himself to remain composed until the man left.
With trembling fingers, he tore open the envelope.
To Colton,
By the time you read this, I’ll be in Russia.
Most likely, I won’t be coming back.
Don’t bother asking why. The day I saw you at the hospital with my parents and Clarissa, I understood everything.
My whole life has been one long chain of misfortune. You and Grandma were the only light in it… I thought you’d always be that light.
But I was wrong.
H
The baby is gone. I know none of you wanted it to be born. You were all afraid it’d threaten Joey’s
place in the family.
To be born as our child would’ve been cruel. Better to let him go before he ever had to suffer like I
did.
Colton, I don’t love you anymore.
That love died the moment I discovered the truth.
And I no longer expect anything from my parents. If I could go back, I’d rather have never met them
at all.
Goodbye. I hope your perfect little family is everything you dreamed of.
Don’t look for me.
-Natalie
Tears blurred Colton’s vision. His chest convulsed with every ragged breath..
She had known everything.
And she had still let them lie to her face, still smiled through it all.
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She had planned to leave–not to trap anyone, not to seek revenge–but to disappear.
She had never meant to hurt Clarissa.
She was already gone.
Colton pressed the letter to his chest as guilt tore through him like wildfire.
He had doubted her.
He had destroyed her.
The one person who truly loved him.
Now, only one thought consumed him–Clarissa would pay.
Chapter 12
