Please Believe Me.

Please Believe Me.
LIORA

“Explain this to me.”

I stared at the image on the phone. It was definitely me in the picture, being carried by Jaycee. Except in reality, I had been furious when he touched me. In the image, however, my face looked flushed, as though I was enjoying it while his hands groped my breasts.

“No...” I shook my head and looked at Azrael. His expression was cold and unreadable now. He looked completely different from the man who had been smiling at me moments ago. “It's not what you think, Azrael.”

I stood up slowly, his jacket slipping from my lap while the cold air bit against my skin. I stepped closer to him and noticed how tightly his jaw was clenched.

“That is why I'm asking you to explain,” he said tightly, his eyes finally moving to mine.

“I don't know that man, and what you saw in that image isn't real. Yes, I was at Mara's place, like you already know, but the man in the picture is her boyfriend.” The moment I said those words, shock flashed across his face. “He crossed a line with me, Azrael.”

Tears burned my eyes.

“I was only trying to get a fork from the drawer when he suddenly grabbed me. In the picture, it looks intimate, but it wasn't. I swear it wasn't. I wanted to stab him with the fork.”

My voice cracked as my body trembled.

“Please believe me.”

“Then why didn't you tell me?” he asked quietly.

The calmness in his voice terrified me more than anger would have.

“How could you hide something like that from me, Liora?” He slowly stood up, towering over me while disappointment burned in his eyes. “Do you still not trust me?”

“N-no, that's not true.” I shook my head quickly. “I trust you, Azrael. I do.”

I lifted my hand to touch him, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.

I winced.

“Azrael...”

“Liora.” His voice came out low and heavy. I shivered at the sound of it, at the anger hidden beneath every word. His breathing was uneven, his jaw tight with restrained anger.

Then he released my wrist and turned away.

“Azrael!” I ran after him immediately. “Please, I'm sorry. I only did it because I thought...”

“Why?!” he thundered.

My entire body froze.

“Why would you keep something like that from me?!” His voice echoed through the area, his eyes burning with anger. “Another man touched you, and you said nothing to me?!”

This was the first time he had ever yelled at me.

“I got scared,” I admitted weakly. “I thought you'd hurt him. I thought...”

The moment the words left my mouth, regret consumed me.

The emotion slowly drained from Azrael's face.

Disbelief filled his eyes.

“You were more worried about me hurting him than about what he did to you?”

His lips trembled slightly before he looked away from me completely.

“You think I'm some kind of monster?”

“Azrael, no...” My voice broke.

He opened the car door roughly.

“Get inside.”

“Azrael, I'm sorry,” I begged, my legs shaking.

“Liora.” His voice turned ice cold. “Get in the car.”

I immediately obeyed and rushed inside. The moment the door slammed shut behind me, I flinched.

Outside, the chefs and staff slowly began cleaning the area while tears streamed silently down my face.

A moment later, Azrael entered the driver's seat and drove away without another word.

The silence hurt more than shouting ever could.

His hands tightened around the steering wheel until his veins became visible. I glanced at him and saw that his jaw was still tightly clenched.

I should've told him the truth from the beginning.

He had asked me if something was wrong, and I lied to him.

Azrael hated lies, and I hid something important from him when he trusted me the most.

The entire drive home passed in silence.

When we finally arrived, Azrael got out of the car immediately and walked into the building without waiting for me.

The door slammed shut behind him.

My body shook as I covered my face and broke down crying.

“I'm really sorry,” I choked out.

A sudden knock came from the car window.

I quickly looked up, hope filling my chest for a brief second before disappointment replaced it when I saw Joel standing outside instead.

The smile on his face disappeared instantly.

He opened the car door carefully.

“Liora? What's wrong?” His eyes scanned my face in concern. “Why are you crying?”

“Joel.” I quickly wiped my tears. “It's nothing. Dust got into my eyes earlier.”

His brows furrowed immediately.

“You're lying again.”

I froze slightly before realizing how much I had been lying lately.

I cleared my throat and stepped out of the car while he quietly shut the door behind me.

“Is this about those images?” he asked softly.

I stared at him in shock.

How did he know?

“I was the one who sent them to him,” Joel admitted while scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “When I went to Mara's place, I found a hidden camera in the kitchen.”

“I swear I'm not involved with that man. I didn't even know him before,” I explained quickly.

Joel laughed softly.

“Relax. I know your heart belongs to the boss.”

Pain twisted inside my chest.

“I don't think he believes that.”

“Hmm.” Joel rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Maybe you're wrong.”

“Huh?”

“I said maybe you're wrong.” He looked directly at me. “Azrael isn't as irrational as you think. The reason he reacted like that is because you hurt him. Honestly, I think you damaged him more than you realize.”

His words hit me harder than expected.

“Instead of standing out here crying, why don't you go talk to him properly?” He winked slightly.

My gaze slowly dropped to the ring on my finger.

He's right.

I kept thinking Azrael didn't believe me, when I was the one who failed to trust him.

“Thank you, Joel,” I whispered sincerely before hurrying toward the building.

I rushed straight to Azrael's bedroom and pushed the door open.

He stood near the window, scrolling through his phone.

I closed the door softly behind me.

“Azrael,” I called quietly while walking toward him.

“Leave, Liora.”

The coldness in his voice made fear claw at my chest, but I forced myself to keep moving.

“I won't leave until I make things right.”

He lowered his phone slightly and turned sideways toward me.

My trembling hands moved to the hem of my shirt before I slowly pulled it over my head and let it fall to the floor.

His eyes softened slightly.

I unclasped my bra with shaking fingers and let it fall beside my shirt.

My heavy breasts spilled free as I stared at him nervously.

“Azrael...” My voice trembled softly. “I want to make it up to you.”