Page 87 of Reverence

Somehow, that made me hate myself even more.

“You have to believe me,” he said. “Do you really think I wanted to keep this from you? How was I supposed to tell you, Amala?”

“Oh, now I’m supposed to believe you had my best interests at heart?” My voice cracked but I cleared my throat. “This could’ve been your plan all along.”

I pointed toward the folder lying between us. “You said you’d ruin me, and you’ve accomplished exactly that.” My shoulders were tense, every piece of jewellery on my body suddenly feeling heavier, weighing me down both literally and figuratively.

“Are you happy now?”

His expression hardened.

“When I said I wanted to ruin you, I meant for other men.” He stepped closer. “Not like this.” Another step. “Never like this.”

My chest heaved and my throat was dry.

I looked down at his feet for a split second before meeting his eyes again.

“I’m done with you.” I turned toward the couch and grabbed my belongings. “I want nothing to do with you.”

“Amala—”

“I don’t want to see you again.” I shoved my things into my bag. “And you’re no longer my partner.”

“Just wait, please.” His voice cracked with desperation. “Mi corazón, please.”

I froze for half a second.

“I would never hurt you. Not intentionally.” He swallowed.

“I wanted to tell you. I just—”

“You couldn’t bring yourself to do it?”

I turned around and when he didn’t answer. I suddenly understood.

That feeling.

The one that had been curling inside my gut for days.

The nagging voice in the back of my mind.

The inexplicable unease I’d kept pushing aside.

It had never been paranoia.

It had been the truth trying to make itself heard.

ARES

I panicked, grabbing her wrist before she could walk any further.

“Tell me how to fix this.” I’ve never experienced this before. This ache in my chest that simply worsened as time passed by.

She gazed at me with that empty look in her eyes, pursing her lips. It was evident she wasn’t going to talk anymore. “Princesa—”

“Don’t call me that.” She stepped back, tugging her wrist free. “I’m leaving.” She said bitterly, glaring daggers at me.

Leaving?