Page 95 of Own Me

Ysabel:How can you not know?!

Julio:Ynez told me it was ROMANA I was talking about. But that I shouldn't mention her name because she's got spies all over the place. So, when I was talking to him that day, I just did what Ynez told me, and I told him that someone close to Ynez had read her diary...

Ysabel:And of course, he automatically assumed you were talking about me.

Julio:I'm so sorry. She paid me to do it, and I figured why not take it since I was just helping her warn her boyfriend about her best friend? I'm so sorry, cuginetta. I'm so, so sorry.

Ysabel:It's not your fault. You trusted Ynez...just like I did.

Julio:Where's Massimo? I can go to him and explain—-

Ysabel:No, it's fine. I don't think it would do any good if you go to him. He's just going to think I found a way to convince you to lie for me.

Julio:I'm so, so sorry. Sono mortificato, chiedo scusa. If you need me to do anything, like anything, just tell me, and I will do it. OK?

ALL EYES WERE ON MASSIMOand Ynez as they occupied one of the few available tables in Boston's most popular Italian restaurant. Ynez had wanted him to visit her house, but he had put his foot down about the necessity of meeting in public.

We can meet anywhere else you wish,he had offered by way of compromise, and of course, Ynez had chosen a place where they were sure to be photographed. She had always been the type to get even and retaliate, whenever she didn't get her way. He had actually forgotten that part about her, and being reminded of it left a bad taste in Massimo's mouth.

He might have only known Ysabel for over a day, but he already knew hisfidanzatawas not as vindictive. She was not perfect,sì,but the good traits she possessed...were the very ones he had once imagined Ynez to have, only to be disappointed by reality.

And that is more my fault than Ynez's,Massimo thought grimly. Ynez had never asked to be placed on a pedestal, and it was not her fault that their brief but unforgettable encounter in the funhouse had led him to create a false image of her in his mind.

Ynez was struggling to contain her resentment and rage. Massimo had barely said a word in the past hour, not even when she had accused him outright of no longer caring for her. Maybe, it was time to bring out the big guns...

Massimo's jaw clenched when Ynez suddenly started crying. "You're just like them, Mas. You're just like them."

"Do not make this more difficult, Ynez. I already explained I had no choice. Ysabel is now myfidanzata,and it is my duty to protect her—-"

"But to do so at my expense?" she cried out. "How is that fair?"

"That is why I am here, apologizing—-"

"I don't want your apologies, Mas. Can't you see that?" She tried reaching for his hand and nearly ended up screaming in rage when Massimo drew back as if not wanting her touch. "Why are you acting this way? You're so unfair," she choked out in a sob. "I was with you for five years, and you've known her for what? A fucking matter of hours? Can't you see what she's doing to us? She's evil—-"

"Enough, Ynez."

"No! You have to hear the truth—-"

Massimo had truly had enough, and he cut her off, saying harshly, "If you insist on speaking the truth, then do not act as if you yourself have not done anything wrong."

A shiver crawled down Ynez's spine at the hardened look on her ex-boyfriend's gorgeous face. He had never looked at her like this.Never!

"If...if Ysabel told you something—-"

"She did not have to tell me anything since your best friend Romana had already offered ample evidence about your affair with her boyfriend."

Ynez paled.Fuck.So that was why the other woman had been so cold to her lately, and there were also times she had caught Romana looking at her with a catty little smile.That bitch!

Her mind raced as she tried to come up with the best possible excuse, but then she saw the steely expression on Massimo's gorgeous face, and she knew him well enough to know there was only one way out of this.

"I'm sorry." Ynez's fingers curled into fists as she forced the words out. "I don't know how much she's told you, but...I've been having an affair behind your back since you stopped wanting to have sex with me."

Ynez's confession was unexpected, and Massimo's jaw clenched as his anger faded, and guilt over wasting years of his ex-girlfriend's life once again assaulted his conscience.

"Perdonami." Forgive me."You were right from the start. I was mistaken about my feelings, and I ended up wasting your life."

Ynez lowered her head, but only because she was unable to keep herself from smiling.Stupid, stupid Mas.Why were so many people so predictablystupid?Truth didn't always set people free. Truth could be just as easily weaponized and turn into a cage...when spoken by the right at the right time and place.

---