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“I … I was caught between you two. He’s my father—”
“And I’m your husband!” he cuts me off. His voice reverberates throughout the room.
“I know. And trust me, I wanted to choose you.” I grab his face, forcing him to look at me. “But, Antonio, he was going to hurt my sister. Can’t you understand that? Can’t you believe me? I didn’t want this. I love you. I really love you.”
His eyes soften for just a fraction before hardening again. “That doesn’t matter now. It doesn’t matter what your father was holding over you. You lied to me. You didn’t throw that poison away, which means you kept it, knowing you’d use it on me one day. How can I ever trust you again?”
“That was a mistake. I should have thrown it out. But it does matter that my father was threatening my sister. That’s the only reason I never told you. I couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me. I even told my father I was willing to die, but he didn’t care.”
“Then you should have come to me,” Antonio seethes. “I would have helped you. I would have helped your sister. You know it. I love my family, and I’d do anything to protect them. That includes your sister. That included you.” I don’t miss the obvious. He said “included,” as in past tense.
“Am I not a part of your family any longer?” I whisper.
He gently removes my hands from his face. “No, you’re not. I don’t work with people who betray me. I’ve spent the past five years wanting to kill my uncle because he betrayed me. You knew this. And yet you went and betrayed me anyway. I can’t even look at you.” He turns away from me.
I stretch my hand out to him, even though he doesn’t see. “Antonio, please. Just … please.”
“You messed up, Nina. I thought we had something real. But it was all one big fucking lie.”
I cry out, dropping to my knees. I can’t stand the weight of my body any longer. I’m suffocating.
Antonio looks over his shoulder at me, anger and pity in his eyes. It makes me cry harder. “At least I know the truth now. I know I can’t trust your father. I know Killian is on my side. I know who my allies are … and who my enemies are.” The way he tosses the word “enemies” at me makes it clear he considers me a part of that category.
“I want you gone,” he says.
“Antonio …”
“No. I want you gone, Nina. Our marriage is done. Your father may be the one working for my uncle, but you’re just as guilty. You didn’t come to me with the truth. You chose your father over me. I don’t want to see you again. You’re not welcome in this apartment. I want you out of my life.”
I pause, taking in his words, barely able to believe them. I knew Antonio would be upset if he found out the truth, but I never knew he could just toss me aside like this.
“You told me you loved me,” I say. “You can just push that aside?”
“Yes,” he says bluntly, making me flinch. “I can. Because none of it was real. Now, go.” He sounds so tired suddenly that I cry harder. “Just go, Nina.”
“You’re not going to hurt me?” I ask, standing up on shaky legs.
“Do you want me to?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why even ask? To make you feel less guilty?” He scoffs. “I’m in no mood to make you feel less guilty, Nina. Now go.”
I don’t move.
He storms over to me and grabs my arms, making me cry out. “Did you hear me? Just go!”
This time, I run for the door, feeling my heart break with every step.
* * *
I have nowhere to go.I’ve never had a place of my own. It was either my father’s house or Antonio’s. I’ve never even had a job to make money to get my own place.
I walk. I walk until I find a little park and sit down on one of the benches. It’s dark out and chilly. I shiver in my nightgown. In my hurry to leave, I didn’t even bother to grab a jacket. I just slipped on my shoes and left.
I knew the truth would come out eventually. And I knew it wouldn’t be pretty.
But I still can’t believe Antonio abandoned me like that. I know he’s hurting, and he has every right to. I just thought that when he said he loved me, he meant it. I thought we could get through it together.
