Chapter 3

• I walk out of the hallway with anger boiling inside me, I wanted to kill Maximo and that bitch, I wanted to kill her because he promised to be faithful to me even if it's all a farce.
• " Darling, there you are " Teresa says, but when she sees my face, her expression turns to concern " Are you okay? You look a bit pale."
• " Yes, Teresa, I'm just wonderful " I try to sound as unironic as possible, but it's useless because Teresa notices.
• " 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 appear together, they have the audacity to show up together, they should at least pretend.
• " Are you okay? You look a bit pale " Maximo says, and when he tries to touch me, I just move away.
• " I want to go home " he seems not to understand, but he nods.
• " Mother, father, we're leaving " they say goodbye to me, and from a distance, I see the bitch pass a note to Maximo and wink at him. We get into the car, and neither of us speaks, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
• " What's wrong? Why are you so serious?"
• " Me? I'm perfect, Maximo, better than ever " I say in an ironic tone.
• " Hey, don't talk to me like that, respect me "
• I laugh like crazy and angrily retort, " 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 the fuck with your cousin, my love? " when I say that, Maximo's face changes and he turns 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 " we arrive home, and I get out of the car without caring that he calls me.
• " Damn it, Lia, I'm talking to you! " he grabs my arm and stops me.
• " What do you want?"
• " What happened with Laura was a mistake that I didn't... " I cut him off before he can lie to me more.
• " You know what, stop saying so much nonsense, stop treating me like a fool " I release myself from his grip and go up to the room, throwing myself on the big bed, letting my emotions flow.
• " I won't let anyone walk all over me, not even my dear husband. If he wants to sleep with that bitch, I'll find myself a lover too " and with that thought, I fall deeply asleep.
• The next morning, I get up and take a shower because today I feel like going out and clearing my head a bit.
• I go down to have breakfast, and there I see him having his morning coffee, but I ignore him completely because I'm so angry.
• " Hello, Rosa, can you give me my breakfast, please?"
• " Hello " Maximo speaks to me, but I ignore him " come on, Lia, don't be childish " when he says that, I feel the anger rising, and without thinking, I grab my orange juice and throw it on his perfect suit.
• " Does this seem childish to you? " his face shows fury, so before he can say anything, I leave the house, not without hearing his shouts.
• I end up in a shopping mall, looking at some things, although I don't buy anything. I think looking at clothes helps me clear my mind, but suddenly I bump into something quite hard.
• " Oh, I'm sorry, I... " I am mesmerized when I see 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 smiles and shakes 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 takes my hand and kisses it... what a gentleman.
• " Likewise."
• " Tell me, would you accept a coffee? " I don't think it's right, but well, if Maximo can sleep with his cousin, I don't think there's a problem with me accepting a coffee with this sexy man.
• " Of course, I'd love to " we went to a quite pleasant cafe, and he started telling me a bit about his life. He's an accountant and works for a bank.
• " Well, and tell me, what do you do?"
• " 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 take my hair and tuck it behind my ear, and when I do, Edward's gaze lingers on my hand.
• " Are you married? " I look at my ring suddenly, and wow, I completely forgot to take it off.
• " Yes, I am."
• " God, how stupid, and I thought you were single " he seems a bit desperate, but I don't want him to leave because I enjoy his company.
• " wait, I'll tell you something but don't go " he seems unsure of what to do, then ends up sitting down.
• " 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."
• " wow, this 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 seems unsure of what to do, and for a moment I think he's going to leave, but when he takes my hand, my calmness returns.
• " I don't agree with what you're doing, but I also enjoy your company " we both smile and then stop talking about the subject.
• " well, I think it's getting late, see you later " he approaches and kisses my cheek.
• " see you, beautiful " I leave the cafe and head home, as it's already night and Maximo probably won't be home, so I better relax; when I arrive, there's a commotion and I hear Maximo shouting.
• " I DON'T CARE, FIND MY WIFE RIGHT NOW!! " when I enter the living room, everyone stares, and it seems Maximo notices because he turns around and when he sees me, his face completely changes, 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 points to the clock.
• " I know it's late, but I'm old enough to not have a curfew."
• " don't disrespect me."
• " 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 snap 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 grabs his coat and leaves 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 go up to my room and cry all night, so much so that the next morning I wake up with a headache, so I go and take some pills. When I take them, my phone rings and I see that it's Edward.
• " 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 that bitch, well, I'm going 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 hang up the call, but a noise startles me.
• " don't even think about leaving here with a man..."