Innes pov
My palm struck his cheek, the sting of the impact vibrating through my arm. Max had been holding me tightly by the waist, but the blow caught him off guard, forcing his grip to slacken. My body trembled, a volatile cocktail of sorrow and rage churning within me. I felt foolish...
so profoundly blind for having ignored the red flags for so long. I had clung to a desperate hope, a silent prayer that I could clarify my intentions, prove my innocence, and build a happy life with my mate. But why? Even if I could clear my name, I was already irrevocably entangled with him and his brother. My fate felt like a cruel joke.
My husband, my true mate and first love—had rejected me for another woman. Then, the Goddess had granted me a second chance, only for that mate to turn out to be my own brother-in-law, a wicked, cruel man who had rejected me just the same.
