Chapter 157

• VALENTINA
• The first gray light of dawn slipped through the blinds and hit my face like a cold hand. I hadn’t slept. My phone sat on the nightstand, screen still glowing from Gustavo’s last message. “If something’s bothering you, I’m here.” The words looked mocking now. I kept seeing that tabloid photo—his arm around Gabrielle, her head thrown back laughing like they shared something private. Then the office whispers this week. They stayed late. She got in his car. My chest burned every time I replayed it. Jealousy sat there like a hot coal I couldn’t spit out.
• I threw the covers off and stood. The floor felt icy under my feet. I walked straight to the shower and turned the water on full blast. It pounded my shoulders, loud enough to drown the noise in my head for a minute. When I stepped out, steam clouded the mirror. I wiped a streak clear and stared at myself. Wet hair stuck to my neck. Eyes red-rimmed. I looked like someone who’d lost a fight.