Page 136 of My Only

“But I can’t blame you.” I said with a wry smile. “I allowed it. I allowed all of it.”

My voice dropped lower.

“Damn.”

I ran a heavy hand down my beard, staring past Harper, lost in every mistake I’d made.

Every bullshit late night.

Every call I didn’t return.

Every moment I put work above my wife.

All because of her.

“You’re upset right now,” Harper said, voice too calm. “I get it. Completely.”

She leaned back, crossing her legs.

And then?

She had the audacity to smirk.

“But trust me, Hassani,” she whispered. “You won’t regret what we can have, too.” She fixed her gaze on mine. Certain. Unshaken. “I’ll see to it.”

I scoffed, closing my eyes tight. It took everything in me to swallow back the quiet rage building in my chest, locking up my muscles, making it hard to breathe.

I inhaled a sharp breath, opened my eyes, and zeroed in on Harper.

“Nah, I definitely would regret it.” I nodded. “Because I love my wife, Harper. So damn much that just you suggesting it is enough to make me lose it—let alone actually doing it.”

I watched as her chest caved in a little at that.

“I waited, and waited, and waited for years to make her my wife,” I added, voice hoarse.

“Ayla is my one and only. And I have no interest in sharing myself with you—or anyone else—when I have her.”

I leaned in slightly. Voice low. Steady. Unshakable.

“Are we clear, Harper? Because it’s very important that we are crystal fucking clear on that shit.”

She just blinked.

I exhaled sharply, lowering my attention to my sketchbook. Then my eyes drifted to the blueprints on my screen. Realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

I never had to stay late.

I didn’t have to be here right now.

Harper sabotaged my work.

And probably my marriage.

But what killed me? What truly gutted me?

I let her do it.

I let it all happen.

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