Chapter 512

Chapter 512:

Stefan moved protectively closer to Hannah, his jaw tightening with anger. “Leave her out of this. Your problem is with me, not with Hannah.”

“My problem is with anyone who helps destroy my marriage!” Alexander’s voice cracked with pain and rage. “I know what I saw, Stefan. I know what it looks like when a man is trying to seduce a woman.”

“You don’t know anything,” Stefan said, his voice deadly quiet. “You don’t know what loyalty looks like, or trust, or putting someone else’s happiness above your own revenge.”

Alexander’s face twisted with fury. “Don’t lecture me about loyalty. You’re the one who cheated on Camille with her sister. You’re the one who destroyed her ability to trust anyone.”

“And I’ve spent every day since then trying to make amends for that betrayal. Unlike you, who’s still choosing your vendetta over her well-being.”

“I’m fighting for justice!”

“You’re fighting for revenge based on lies someone fed you.” Stefan stepped closer to Alexander, his own anger finally boiling over. “You’ve been manipulated by whoever wants to destroy Victoria, and you’re too blinded by hate to see it.”

Alexander’s control snapped completely. “I’m tired of listening to your self-righteous…”

His fist connected with Stefan’s jaw before anyone could react. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the conference room like a gunshot.

Stefan staggered backward, his hand flying to his face where a red mark was already beginning to swell. Hannah gasped and moved toward him instinctively, her hands reaching out to check his injury.

“Stefan! Are you okay?” Hannah’s voice was filled with genuine concern as she gently touched his bruised jaw.

The tenderness in Hannah’s voice, the way she immediately moved to comfort Stefan, the obvious care between them—it all hit Alexander like a second punch to the stomach.

“Oh my God,” Alexander whispered, the reality of what he’d witnessed finally penetrating his jealous rage. “You’re not after Camille. You’re… you and Hannah…”

Camille was already reaching for the phone to call security. “That’s enough, Alexander. You need to leave.”

“I didn’t know,” Alexander said, his voice broken with shame and confusion. “I thought… when I saw him touching you…”

“He was touching me,” Hannah said quietly, her arm still around Stefan’s shoulders as she examined his injury. “We’ve been working together. We’ve become… close.”

Alexander stared at them, seeing clearly for the first time the way Hannah positioned herself protectively near Stefan, the way Stefan’s free hand found hers.

Without conscious thought, the way they looked at each other was definitely more than professional respect.

“I’m sorry,” Alexander said, but the words sounded hollow even to his own ears.

“I didn’t understand. I thought—”

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