CHAPTER 81: REFUSING

Hailee’s POV

With a pounding heart, I stepped into the room and shut the door behind me. Nathan, who was breathing hard, turned his back against me, and I swallowed hard, not knowing how to begin. It was much easier with Callum and Dane, but with Nathan, it was as if it was the most important moment of my life... like everything dawned out to this.

"Hailee, say whatever you wanna say... I need to go take a bath," Nathan urged, his teeth gritting.

I swallowed hard and then took a deep breath before speaking.

"I’m sorry..." I apologized sincerely, my voice soft, my eyes glued to his back.

Nathan scoffed bitterly. "For what?"

I took in a deep breath again and stepped closer. "For not being truthful from the beginning."

His head lowered slightly, fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the tension in the air grow tighter.

"I should’ve told you everything," I said, swallowing hard. "About Callum... and Dane. About the bond forming between us."

Still, no response. He stood like a statue, back rigid, shoulders rising and falling with every breath.

"I didn’t mean to hurt you, Nathan. I never wanted that," I whispered. "But it happened so fast, and I didn’t even understand what I was feeling."

Nathan scoffed. "I believe you understand now how you’re feeling..." he spat bitterly.

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. "Yes... now I understand."

He didn’t move. He didn’t say a word.

I exhaled shakily. My voice dropped to a whisper. "I’m in love with all three of you."

That made him freeze.

"I don’t know how it happened," I continued, words trembling out of me. "It just... did. I tried to ignore it. I tried to push it down. But every time I’m with any of you, it feels real. It feels right. I’m confused, Nathan. I don’t know who to choose."

Slowly, he turned to face me.

My breath caught when I saw his eyes—glowing red with fury and pain. His chest heaved as he stared at me like I’d just ripped his heart out.

"So what exactly do you want me to do, Hailee?" he asked tightly, voice dangerously low.

"I... I want you to agree," I said, barely getting the words out. "Please. Just for now. Let me figure it out. The others have agreed. Callum... Dane... they’re willing to share me, at least until—"

"Share you?" he thundered.

I flinched.

He took a step closer, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you even hearing yourself? You want me to share you? With them?"

Tears stung my eyes. "I’m not asking forever. I just—"

"Do you know how much I love you?" he cut me off, his voice cracking. "Do you really know? Because if you did, you wouldn’t ask me to do something so insane!"

I opened my mouth to speak, but he didn’t let me.

"You want me to sit back and watch while two other men touch you? Kiss you? Sleep with you?" His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tight with rage. "Do you honestly think I can stand that? That I want to share you?"

"Nathan, please—"

"I’m not them," he said coldly. "I’m not calm like Callum. I’m not patient like Dane. I can’t pretend this doesn’t break me."

He pointed toward the door. "Go. Be with the ones who can handle sharing you. I can’t."

My heart cracked.

He turned his back and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

I just stood there, frozen. Tears streaming silently down my face.

I didn’t leave.

I wanted to—God, I wanted to walk away like he asked. Go to Callum. Go to Dane. Be with the two who agreed... the ones who didn’t make my heart feel like it was being torn in half every time they looked at me.

But I couldn’t.

Because as much as I loved them... the thought of losing Nathan felt like dying.

So I stood there—silent. Motionless. Tears slipping down my cheeks as I stared at the closed bathroom door.

I heard the sound of water running. The shower. I imagined him under it, trying to wash away the anger... the pain... me.

I wrapped my arms around myself, the ache in my chest growing heavier with every second.

Minutes passed.

The water stopped.

My breath caught when the door creaked open.

Nathan stepped out, water still glistening on his skin. A white towel hung low on his hips, clinging to him loosely. His hair was damp, drops of water trailing down his chest.

He paused when he saw me still standing there.

"You’re still here," he said flatly, not surprised. Just tired.

I nodded slowly. "I couldn’t leave."

He exhaled sharply and walked past me, not saying anything. He went straight to his dresser and pulled out a shirt, roughly tugging it over his head.

"I told you to go, Hailee."

"I know..."

"Then why are you still here?" he demanded, his voice rising again as he turned to face me, his eyes blazing. "Do you want to torture me? Is that it?"

"No," I whispered. "I want to love you."

His jaw clenched. He looked away.

"I want to love all of you, Nathan. But I can’t do that without you."

"Then choose," he snapped. "Choose me and let them go."

"I can’t do that either," I said, my voice cracking. "Not yet."

His eyes met mine again—and this time, they weren’t just angry. They were broken.

"You’re asking me to be okay with watching the woman I love be touched by other men," he said slowly, like he couldn’t believe the words himself. "You’re asking me to share what I’ve never even had."

I took a step toward him.

"I’m asking you to trust that I won’t love you any less... even if I love them too."

Nathan scoffed, a bitter sound that made my stomach twist.

"So that’s your solution?" he said, voice sharp with disbelief. "We share you?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold his gaze. "Yes... just for a while. Until I can figure it out. Please, Nathan."

He stared at me for a long moment, then gave a dry laugh and nodded slowly, like something just clicked in his head.

"Okay," he said.

I blinked. "Okay?"

"I’ll agree," he said. "But only on one condition."

My heart stuttered. "What condition?"