Page 173 of Face Off

“You’re right.”

The answer came quietly.

“I know only that I helped create the conditions around something that hurt you terribly, and I am sorry.”

No explanation followed, no story about good intentions or reminder that Lance once loved his children. Crystal simply let the apology stand where she put it, without reaching for an excuse that might make any of it easier to forgive.

For the first time since she stepped onto the patio, I felt like Crystal Harlen was actually speaking to me instead of negotiating with whatever version of herself she needed to survive.

“I hated you.”

“I understand.”

“I hated both of you for making Charm feel like loving me could destroy her entire life.”

“I understand that too.”

“I looked at your daughter and saw every good thing left in the world. You looked at me and saw something dirty enough to ruin her.”

Crystal flinched. “I was wrong.”

“So, fucking wrong.”

“Yes.”

“You helped break us.”

Her chin trembled.

“Losing her broke something deep inside me. I walked away because staying after that betrayal would have destroyed whatever self-respect I had left. I needed her gone badly enough that I made sure she believed there was nothing left in me worth reaching for.”

Crystal’s tears fell freely.

“I am ashamed of the part I played.”

“Chale, you should be.”

I looked through the glass doors. Rider stood near the bar with his phone resting loosely in one hand. Easton and Briggs had positioned themselves close enough to see the doors without making it obvious they were watching them. Cade stood with Bliss near the opposite side of the room, though his attention shifted toward the patio often enough to tell me he had been counting minutes.

I looked back at Crystal. “I accept your apology.”

Her hand lifted toward her mouth before she stopped it halfway. “You do?”

“That doesn’t erase what happened.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t fix what you helped break.”

“I know.”

“And I will never offer your husband the same grace.”

“I would never ask you to.”

I studied her for another second.

“Then yeah. I accept it.”