CHAPTER 163

HAZEL

Christian lifted his face from my neck, his eyes red, his cheeks damp. I had never witnessed him break down that way. The rare occasions when he cried, he still held himself in check, his pride unable to allow even me to fully see his pain. I grabbed the tissues Maddox had dropped beside us and wiped Christian’s face, cupping his cheeks. “Hey,” I whispered, looking up at him from where I crouched between his legs.

“I guess I lost the last piece of my man card with that display,” he mumbled.

“I doubt it. Maddox was openly weeping before you even finished walking, and Mia had to leave the room.”

He frowned in confusion. “Why?”

“They’re as proud of you as I am, Christian.”

“Where are they?”

“Maddox made sure you were back in your chair, and they left. I heard the car driving away, so I assumed they left to give us some privacy.”

He looked down, surprised. “I have no recollection of being moved.”

I softened my voice. “You were pretty emotional.”