Chapter 196: My Guilt

Alexander woke up the next morning with a pounding headache, his temples throbbing in sync with his rapid heartbeat. The bitter taste of regret and the remnants of last night’s alcohol lingered in his mouth, making him grimace as he forced himself to open his eyes. The room spun slightly, and he groaned, bringing a hand to his face. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. As his senses gradually adjusted to his surroundings, he felt the unmistakable warmth of another body pressed against his side. A soft hand was draped across his chest, and the realization hit him like a freight train. He turned his head slowly, half-hoping he was mistaken. “Emma?” he whispered, his voice hoarse with desperation. But as his eyes focused, the nightmare solidified. It wasn’t Emma beside him. It was Hazel. His heart sank, a pit forming in his stomach. Memories from last night were hazy at best—fragments of faces, a bitter taste of whiskey, the soft hum of indistinct voices. How had this happened again? P