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Because we both know she’s the one who corrupted me with her innocent and kind heart, slipping into the cracked pieces of my soul and putting them all back together.
I’m always going to be the villain in this story.
But you know what?
Villains take whatever they want and don’t care how morally wrong it is.
Jimena
“This is a disaster,” I whisper as I walk back inside the house, heading to the living room where Maxwell drinks tea. “What the hell did you do?”
He places the cup away on the table nearby while flashing me a smile that I wish to wipe away with my fist. This guy has been testing my patience ever since I’ve agreed to marry him. “What did I do, darling?”
“You agreed not to use my baby in this charade.”
“Correction. I agreed not to say anything to the press. I’ve made no promises when it comes to your family.” This fucking asshole. I hope Arson finds something on him and helps me out before the stupid wedding.
The Dark Protégés promised me they’ll do their best to figure out his agenda and destroy whatever he has on the dark four. I still shudder thinking about Arson asking me why he couldn’t just burn him down and save us all the hassle.
Needless to say, I requested to speak to Lachlan after that particular comment. It’s one thing to know what they all do and quite another to listen to them describe ways in which they would prefer to kill someone.
“You should be thanking me, darling. You were running out of time, and this way, you can relax and stop trying so desperately to hide your pregnancy.” Before I can say anything, my brother storms inside, followed by Remi, Penelope, and his wife. “Ah, Santiago. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” He flashes him yet another grin. “But don’t you worry. I’ll be a good father to your future nephew or niece.” He waits a beat and adds, “Probably a nephew, though.”
My jaw about hits the floor when my brother punches him hard in the face, the cracking sound reverberating through the walls, and Maxwell falls on the couch behind him. “Listen here, you fucker. We both know you’re holding something against her, and that’s the only reason she agreed to marry you. We’ll get to that, but in the meantime, let’s make something perfectly clear.” Maxwell’s brow rises as he wipes away the blood from his lips, and somehow seeing this makes me happy. He deserves it for all this mess, and my heart still hurts thinking about Florian and what just happened. I might be angry with him, but…I never imagined the truth to cause this much ruin. “My future nephew already has a father. You have no fucking claim on this baby and never will. If you even try to suggest to someone otherwise, you’ll find out quickly what a huge mistake that is.”
“The loyalty runs deep, it seems. You’re still on his side despite what he did.” Maxwell whistles and gets up, adjusting his suit jacket. “Not sure if it’s foolish or admirable.”
Oh.
My brother may be furious with Florian, but it doesn’t stop him from protecting his best friend and reminding Maxwell that my baby belongs to us and not him in any way.
His words give me hope that maybe there is still a chance to salvage their relationship once all this is over, and he will forgive us.
It’s like with siblings, right? You can be angry with them and rip them a new one, but the minute someone else says shit about them, you’re ready to kick their ass.
“Nothing in my life concerns you, Maxwell. Get the fuck out of here.”
“You’re so rude. I’ll go, but I’m still marrying your sister in two months.”
“We shall see, Maxwell.”
“I love a challenge, Santiago.” He winks at me as he passes. “I’ll call you, darling.” He reaches out to touch my cheek, but Remi grabs his hand and shoves him away, making him laugh. “You guys are a possessive bunch. Ladies.” He bows to us and disappears into the hallway, then we hear the door shut behind him.
Santiago turns around to face me, and my fists clench when I see such fury in his eyes that is aimed at me. In all my life, my brother never looked at me this way, and it hurts.
Because it rubs my still open wounds raw, and the pain becomes almost unbearable.
“I just stood there and did nothing as Dad kicked out our godfather after repeatedly insulting him.” I shudder, remembering the disappointment on Uncle Jacob’s face because we both stayed silent. “He’s a man I respect the most after our dad. The man who’s been there for me even when I acted like a dick, and still loved me. But I stood there in silence and didn’t utter a single fucking word in his defense. Because family loyalty comes above anything else.” He yells the last part, and I jump a little, stepping back from his fury. “How could you do this to me, Jimena?” My throat becomes dry, and my heartbeat speeds up as panic sweeps over me. “How could you put me in a position where I had to choose between my friends, godfather, and family? You couldn’t fall in love with anyone else? Did it have to be my best fucking friend?”
An invisible chain holding all my pain, resentment, and anguish intact inside me snaps at his last question, and I can no longer contain the vile words spilling from my mouth. “How could I do this to you? Are you really asking me this question?” My hollow laughter echoes through the space. “My love for Florian is mine, Santiago, and has nothing to do with you,” I shout and see how concern flashes in his eyes, but I’m past caring about all this. I’m powerless to stop all my pent-up anger from spilling out. “My whole life was about you. I was born into our parents’ grief, forever existing in your shadow in a house that’s a museum of their lost hopes and dreams. Every single wall had your pictures on it, and Mom would stare at them for hours.” I gulp for air as tears fill my eyes. “For the first four years of my life, I had no idea what it was like to have normal parents. Because Mom wouldn’t leave the house as she waited endlessly for you, and Dad was roaming the world trying to find you. You know who took me out and introduced me to a life outside these walls? The Price family.”
“Jimena—”
“We didn’t celebrate Christmas, so Florian would pick me up and bring me to their house, where they showered me with gifts. We couldn’t be happy in this house because you weren’t here, and I understand.” My tears fall down my cheeks now, and I wipe them away. “I do. I can’t imagine losing my baby and not knowing where they are. And God knows you lived through hell, and it’s not your fault, but what about me, Santiago? Do you know what it is like to be the invisible child? To know that no matter what you do or how much you try…your parents don’t see you?”
“My God…” Briseis mutters.
“Finally, you came back, and I thought everything would be different. We’d no longer be sad, and Mom would go out. Except your pain was greater than anyone expected, and you constantly lashed out, so once again, everything was about you. Do you remember my kindergarten graduation?”
