Page 150 of Forever To Me

“You don’t get to call her that.” My hands curl into fists at my sides. “You signed away your rights. You don’t even know hername, Stella.”

She flinches. But only for a second before she tilts her chin up, all faux confidence and arrogance wrapped in a designer coat.

“That’s not fair,” she breathes. “You kept her from me.”

Ilaugh. A sharp, bitter sound."That's not true at all, and youknowit. You walked away and left her alone in the hospital. You didn’t even wait for me."

She shakes her head, eyes wide, dripping with the same manipulation she’s always used. “You don’t know what I went through, Asher. You don’tknow.”

That name.Thatdamnname. I hate hearing her say my name.

My fists tighten. My jawlocks. I grind my teeth together. “Don’t call me that.” I love it when Violet says it but when Stella says it, it sounds patronizing.

Her lips curve. “It’s who you are.”

I don’t wait for her to say another word. I turn back toward the bar and push the door open. Inside, Maggie waits, her arms crossed, her eyes soft but knowing.

I exhale, rubbing my jaw. “Take Mack to my office. Keep her there until Stella leaves.”

Maggie nods, already moving. “Come on, sweetheart,” she says gently to Mack, who looks more confused than anything.

Mack frowns, looking at me. “Dad, I’m fine.”

I shake my head. “Just…gowith Maggie, okay?”

I need to know she’s safe. I need to know she’saway from this.

Mack sighs but follows Maggie. As soon as the office door clicks shut, I let out a slow breath, pressing my hands to the bar.

And then, before I can even think about what happens next, Violet is in front of me, eyes blazing.

“Did you know?” My voice is quiet, dangerous. “Did you knowbefore tonightthat she was my ex?”

Violet’s mouth opens, then closes. “No,” she breathes. “Of course not.”

I want to believe her. Ishouldbelieve her. But, like Stella says, this is really convenient. How could we both have the same enemy? And how did she even find us? Did Violet lead her right to us? How else could she know?

But after everything I’ve been through, after whatStelladid, my chest tightens with something ugly.

Violet sees it. And it shatters her. Her face falls, her arms dropping to her sides. “You don’t believe me.”

I exhale, trying to fight the doubt, trying topush it away. But I don’t answer fast enough. And that silence? That’s what kills her.

She shakes her head, stepping back. “Wow.” Her voice is thick, raw. “Guess I don’t knowyouas well as I thought either.”

Then she turns and walks out.

I wake up with a pounding head and the sharp sting of regret pressing heavy on my chest.

The cabin is dark, the only light coming from the early morning sun filtering through the curtains. My mouth is dry, my body heavy, the remnants of last night’s whiskey still burning low in my stomach.

I don’t drink like that.Not anymore.But last night?

Last night, I needed something to numb the ache in my chest, to drown out the feeling of her, the way she looked at me when she walked away, when I let her.

So, I came here. To mysafe place.

I tried to work on a song, thinking maybe I couldget it out of me, the anger, the confusion, the damnhurt, but nothing came. No words. No melody.

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