Page 37 of Of Vows and Betrayal

To add to the mix, I also discovered that I’m a coward, and this is why I’ve let her down for the past two days.

I played the sick card. Fuck, I’m pathetic. Leaning my head back on the sofa, I stare at the ceiling. A thirty-four-year-old man hiding because he kissed a girl he shouldn’t have.

Good job, Javier.I wonder what Tiago would have to say about that.

My phone beeps with a text beside me. I glance at it but ignore it.

It beeps again. And again.

I let out a long sigh and grab the phone.

Ophelia: Are you coming today?

Ophelia: Please, just for today. I can’t let down people at Hope and Harmony Day—My father’s otherguards won’t let me go.

Ophelia: Let’s pretend nothing happened. It was a huge mistake. Please, Javier, don’t do this to me.

My resolve shatters once again. She did nothing wrong—my jealousy caused this mess. With a groan, I sit up, raking my hand through my hair. I can’t keep avoiding her; she shouldn’t suffer for my mistakes. I text back.

Me: I’ll be there in thirty minutes.

I don’t wait for her response. I get up, get dressed, and try to steel myself for what’s to come. I need to focus on the mission, not on how she makes me feel. But the thought of seeing her again, of facing her after everything, makes my stomach twist.

When I arrive at the Bergotti estate, I’m greeted by the usual guards. They nod as I pass, and I can feel their eyes on me, judging, assessing. I brush it off and head to the main house.

Ophelia waits at the door, her face lighting up when she sees me. The sight is a punch to the chest. I force a neutral expression.

“Thank you for coming,” she says, her voice soft, sincerity evident.

“I said I would.” I try for detachment, but her proximity and vulnerability make it difficult.

“We should get going. The event starts soon.” She turns and leads the way to the car, and I follow, trying to keep my thoughts in check.

The drive to the Hope and Harmony event is suffocatingly silent. Ophelia’s glances prick at my skin, silent words hanging in the air. Eventually, she breaks thesilence.

“Javier, about the other night…”

“Don’t.” I cut her off, my tone sharper than intended. “It was a mistake. It doesn’t mean anything.”

She flinches, and I immediately regret my words. But before I can apologize, we arrive at the destination, and she all but jumps out of the car.

I stay seated in the car for a few minutes, kicking myself for not knowing exactly where the event was taking place. A rookie mistake. I wince at the sight of San Miguel Church, knowing Tiago will be here and that I’ll likely endure a sermon later. I glance back, but Ophelia is already out of sight.

I get out of the car and walk slowly to where I saw her disappear. If I were a religious man, I would start praying, asking for God’s leniency—something that he never granted me—and allow us to go through the day without crossing Tiago’s path and his all-seeing eyes. I should know better, and if I was not convinced before, I am now because if there is a God, he must truly hate me as I see her at some sort of baked goods stand with none other than the great Father Hernandez standing on the other side chatting with her.

Her gaze falls on me as I approach, and she stiffens, causing Tiago to turn around. His face is friendly enough, but his eyes are burning with his fiery judgment.

“Here we fucking go,” I mutter as I stop by the table.

“Father Hernandez, let me introduce you to Javier Vargas.” She beams at him. Of course she does. Everybody loves Tiago—it must have something to do with the holy habit. I almost snicker at that. I’ve seen Tiago’s unholy side,and it could rival all the demons of hell.

“No need to make an introduction. I know Mr. Vargas quite well,” Tiago says, his tone carrying some judgment.

“Yes, childhood friends and all that,” I reply with a shrug, knowing our relationship is far more complicated than that.

“It’s so lovely to meet you, flower girl. It’s nice to put a name to a face.”

“Flower girl?” I can’t help but ask, and by the way her cheeks color, I want to know so much more.

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