"I get it," Ruby said, fighting back tears.
And just like that, the video cut off.
Alaric quickly defended himself, "See, I wasn't lying." Hertha looked at him skeptically, "Then explain towhy the cops said you were at the nightclub looking for sshady company, not to mention getting into a physical altercation and a financial dispute?" Those were serious accusations.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAlaric was desperate to clear his name, "I was at Sapphire Skyline just hanging out with Richard and Ethan, drinking. Those girls, Zola forced them into our booth. I was disgusted, that's why I pushed Ruby away, and she got hurt. That's what they meant by 'physical altercation.' As for the financial dispute, it's exactly what you saw in the video. I accidentally broke her bracelet, and when I tried to compensate her for it, we couldn't cto an agreement." Hertha pondered his explanation. It made sense, but it was hard to believe outright.
"Really? That's the truth?" she pressed, eyebrows raised.
"Absolutely," Alaric insisted, almost desperately. "If only there were cameras in that booth, I'd show you the footage myself." Seeing his earnestness, Hertha decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But she wasn't entirely convinced, "Even if you didn't go to the nightclub to meet women, what about the child you have with Georgia? That's a fact we can't ignore. There's no future for us." She withdrew her hand from his and looked away.
Mentioning Georgia brought a wave of sadness over Hertha. Alaric was someone she had once been deeply infatuated with, and even now, a part of her couldn't let him go.
She would have loved nothing more than to be with him forever, but reality was often cruel and dreams seldom ctrue.
She couldn't lower her standards, nor could she accept a man who had a child with another woman.
The mention of Georgia deflated Alaric's confidence too. His eyes usually so sharp, dimmed as he sighed, "About Georgia... all I can say is, I won't be with her, nor will compromise because of the child." He could only state his position. Changing established facts was beyond his control.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
"But the reality is what I can't accept," Hertha told him firmly. "I'd ratherbe alone than with someone tainted. someone who carries the dirt of another woman."
"Are you callingtainted?" Alaric was taken aback, hurt flasking m across his face. Hertha knew her words were harsh, but they needed to address their issues head-on.
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Yes, to me, you're covered in mud, impossible to cleanXComing near me, all can sense is the stench of that mud, the presence of another woman. I can't accept that X