Chapter 3

• Lia's POV
• I walked out of the hallway with anger boiling inside me. I wanted to kill Maximo and that bitch Laura. I wanted to kill her because he promised to be faithful to me, even if it was all a farce.
• "Darling, there you are..." Teresa said, but when she saw my face, her expression turned concerned. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale."
• "Yes, Teresa. I'm just feeling wonderful." I tried to sound as unironic as possible, but it was useless because Teresa had noticed.
• "I don't think that's the case. You seem serious, like something has bothered you. Was it us?"
• "Oh no, Ma'am. You've been wonderful. It's just that..."
• At that moment, Laura and Maximo appeared together. They had the audacity to show up together when they should at least pretend.
• "Are you okay? You look a bit pale," Maximo asked. When he tried to touch me, I just moved away.
• "I want to go home."
• He seemed not to understand, but he nodded anyway.
• "Mom, Dad, we're leaving," he informed them.
• They bid me goodbye. From a distance, I saw the bitch Laura pass a note to Maximo and winked at him.
• Neither of us spoke when we got into the car, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
• "What's wrong? Why are you so serious?"
• "Me? I'm perfectly fine, Maximo. Better than ever," I said ironically.
• "Hey, don't talk to me like that. Respect me."
• I laughed like crazy and angrily retorted, "You're asking for respect? Please, you don't deserve my respect."
• "What the hell is wrong with you?"
• "The thing is, you're a damn liar who can't keep his damn promises."
• "What do you mean?"
• "How was it fucking with your cousin, my love?" Maximo's face changed, and he turned pale.
• "What's wrong, darling? Surprised?"
• "Did you see us?"
• "Of course, I heard everything you said. But don't worry. I didn't stay to watch you fuck her."
• When we reached his home, I got out of the car without caring that he called me.
• "Damn it, Lia, I'm talking to you!" He grabbed my arm and stopped me.
• "What do you want?"
• "What happened with Laura was a mistake that I didn't—" I cut him off before he could lie to me more.
• "You know what... Stop saying so much nonsense. Stop treating me like a fool." I freed myself from his grip and went up to the room, throwing myself on the big bed, letting myself drown in emotions.
• "I won't let anyone walk all over me, not even my future husband. If he wants to sleep with Laura, I'll find myself a lover, too." And with that thought, I fell asleep deeply.
• The next morning, I got up and took a shower. I felt like going out and clearing my head a bit that day.
• I went down to have breakfast, and there I saw him having his morning coffee. But I ignored him completely because I was so angry.
• "Hello, Rosa, can you give me my breakfast, please?" I told the maid.
• "Hello," Maximo spoke to me, but I ignored him. "Come on, Lia, don't be childish."
• I felt my anger rising, and without thinking, I grabbed my orange juice and threw it on his perfect suit.
• "Does this seem childish to you?" His face showed fury.
• Before he could say anything, I left the house. But not without hearing his shouts.
• I ended up in a shopping mall, looking at some things, although I wouldn't buy anything. I thought windowshopping would help me clear my mind. But suddenly I bumped into something quite hard.
• "Oh, I'm sorry, I... " I was mesmerized when I saw the incredibly handsome man I just ran into—black hair, gray eyes, and a stunning body.
• "It's okay."
• "I'm a bit clumsy when I walk."
• He smiled and shook his head.
• "I don't think so, rather tell me, what's your name?"
• "Lia, and you?"
• "Edward. It's a pleasure to meet you." He took my hand and kissed it. What a gentleman.
• "Likewise."
• "Tell me, would you like to have coffee? "
• It didn't feel right. But well, if Maximo could sleep with his cousin, it shouldn't be a problem accepting coffee from Edward.
• "Of course, I'd love to."
• We went to a quite pleasant cafe, and he started telling me a bit about his life. Edward was an accountant working for a bank.
• "Well, tell me... What do you do?" he asked.
• "Well... for now, nothing, but I hope to study soon."
• "Ah, I see. And what do you want to study?"
• "Architecture."
• "Wow, that's great! I know you'll be a great architect."
• "Well, I hope so." I took my hair and tucked it behind my ear. Edward's gaze then lingered on my hand.
• "Are you married?"
• I suddenly looked at my ring. Wow, I completely forgot to take it off. "Not yet."
• "God, how stupid, and I thought you were single." He seemed a bit disappointed, but I didn't want him to leave because I enjoyed his company.
• " Wait. I'll tell you something, but don't go." He seemed unsure of what to do, but ended up sitting still.
• "Go ahead."
• "Yes, I am engaged, but all of this is a business deal."
• "A business deal?"
• "My future husband asked me to marry him, so that his father wouldn't take away the company. And since I wasn't in a good place at the time, I had no choice but to accept," I explained.
• "Wow, that is crazy, Lia. How can you marry a man you don't love?"
• "Edward, I know we barely know each other today, but I like you. I enjoy your company, and I would like to keep talking to you." He seemed unsure of what to do, and for a moment, I think he was going to leave. But when he took my hand, my calmness returned.
• "I don't agree with what you're doing. But I also enjoy your company."
• We both smiled and then stopped talking about that subject.
• "Well, I think it's getting late. See you again."
• He walked toward me and kissed my cheek.
• "See you, beautiful."
• I left the cafe and headed home. As it was already night, Maximo probably wouldn't be home, so I could relax better. But when I arrived home, there was a commotion, and I heard Maximo shouting.
• "I don't care. Find my wife right now!"
• I entered the living room, and everyone stared. Maximo instantly noticed and turned around. His facial expression completely changed when he saw me, revealing a furious man.
• "Where the hell were you?!"
• "Hey, don't yell at me!"
• "Then answer, damn it!"
• "Around, dear, taking a walk."
• "Look at the damn time." He pointed to the clock.
• "Don't disrespect me!" he added furiously.
• "No one is!"
• "Lia, you're testing my patience!"
• "And you're testing mine. Why don't you go screw your cousin instead of bothering me?" I snapped angrily.
• "You know what, you're right. I'm going to screw my cousin. I'm not going to waste my time with you!"
• He grabbed his coat and left the house, leaving me standing there in the middle of the living room with a broken heart and a tear rolling down my cheek.
• "Why is he so cruel?"
• I went up to my room and cried all night, so much that the next morning I woke up with a headache. I took some pills. Right after taking them, my phone rang. I saw Edward's name on the screen.
• "Hello, Edward."
• "Hi, beautiful. How are you?"
• "Good, and you?"
• "Very well. I was calling to see if you want to go to the movies with me today."
• Maximo left with Laura, well, I'd go to the movies with Edward.
• "Of course, I would love to. Will you pick me up?"
• "Yes, I'll be there in two hours, and I'll treat you to lunch."
• "Okay, goodbye."
• "Goodbye, beautiful."
• I hung up the call, only for a voice to startle me.
• "Don't even think about leaving here with a man..."