Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

His haunted eyes rise to mine.

I screw up my face. “You said that you loved me,” I whisper.

“I do.”

I sob loudly, all my control gone.

He steps forward. “Bree, baby.” He pauses. “We… we’re at different stages of our lives. We want different things.”

I frown, the tears still rolling down my face.

Is this happening?

“I can’t give you what you want,” he confesses sadly. “I wish I could. I just can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” I whisper. “You just don’t want to.”

His jaw clenches. “You’re right. I don’t.”

If he hit me with an axe, it would be less painful. I gasp as my chest constricts.

I step back from him. How can he knowingly hurt me like this?

Oh, my God, I need to get away from him.

He steps forward, taking me into his arms, and I screw up my face and let myself cry. My shoulders are shaking violently. “Baby, listen to me,” he whispers into my hair. “I love you. More than anything, I love you. But I can’t go back there.”

“I don’t want you to go back there,” I sob. “I’m not Alina, Julian. Stop punishing me for her mistakes.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Anger hits me all at once, and I pull out of his arms. “Well, you have!” I cry.

“It’s my body.” He snaps.

“It’s mine, too,” I whisper. “How could you take away my chance of happiness without even talking to me about it?”

He presses his hand to his forehead, unable to give me an answer.

I stare at him. “I don’t even know you,” I whisper.

His face falls. “Don’t say that.”

“Where’s the beautiful man I fell in love with?”

He gestures to himself. “He’s right here.”

“No.” I shake my head in disgust. “Alina’s husband is here and I don’t love him. He’s a fucking coward.”

His eyes well with tears. “Bree…”

I turn and walk to my car on autopilot. I’ve never been so hurt before in my life. Even my ex, the adultering prick, didn’t hurt me this badly.

I start the car and drive out of the parking lot. Julian stands behind his car with his hands in his suit pockets, watching me, devoid of emotion.

I begin to howl, trying desperately to see the road through my tears.

That’s it…