Page 2 of Craving Paradise

Did I get it wrong?

“Please, Jasper, get up,” Hazel says with more urgency as more tears fall down her cheeks.

I get up as confusion sets in. “What’s the matter, baby?” I ask, wiping the tears from her face.

“I’m sorry, Jasper. I can’t marry you.” She looks up at me through tear-soaked lashes.

Can’t marry me?

“I can’t. Why did you have to ask and put me in this position? I’ve got to go,” Hazel says quickly, turning on her heel and rushing away from the rooftop terrace and me.

Genuine confusion sets in, my stomach in knots. I don’t understand what happened? How did I get this all so wrong? A cell phone beep pulls me from my thoughts, and I walk toward the noise in a daze. Hazel’s phone lights up as it beeps again, and the message flashes across the screen. It’s from William. I pick up the phone and stare at the words blurring on the screen.

William:Have you told him yet? How did he take the news?

Told me what?

As I stare at the screen, willing it to tell me what it means, I type in her passcode and open her phone. Then I scroll to Will’s text message and begin reading his messages to work out what’s happening.

William:I miss you. Please don’t tell me you are sleeping with him while you are there. I can’t handle that.

Hazel:Of course not. I told him it was that time of the month, so he wouldn’t ask.

William:I still don’t understand why you are in Paris with him.

Hazel:Because it’s kinder to break up with him here than at home. He won’t suspect anything if I do it here.

William:He’s going to be upset in London or Paris. Paris doesn’t magically heal his heart.

Hazel:I know. I promise to make it up to you when I get home.

William:Does that mean you’ll wear that red lace set I bought you?

Hazel:Of course, Daddy. I know how much you like seeing me in red.

The phone falls from my hand. I’ve read enough.

Fuck.

How could I have been so fucking stupid? My stomach somersaults, replaying the messages I read. I can only imagine how much worse they get.

Have the two of them been fucking this entire time?

Is it some new thing?

How could they do this to me?

Why?

I get William was angry all those years ago over how he thought I stole her from him, but like I’ve always said, you can’t steal someone who doesn’t want to be stolen. But he never understood it was Hazel’s choice, and she chose me. Guess that’s not the truth now. She seems to have chosen William again.

Fuck this.

Fuck them.

How dare they do this to me?

I’d have given her the world, and she’s thrown it back in my face.

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