Page 42 of Her Cruel One-Sided Love

"It was only that one time."

Ysabel's stunned gaze flew up to Massimo when he suddenly spoke in a rough undertone.

"Just one time that I used those same words for Ynez—-"

Ysabel forced herself to smile despite the pain and jealousy clawing at her heart. "I understand."

"Then why do you still look at me like I have stabbed you?"

Because you did.

Ysabel didn't say the words out loud, of course, but the way Massimo's jaw clenched seemed to suggest that he knew what was on her mind.

A part of Massimo rebelled against the idea of having to explain himself, but he just could not get the look of hurt on Ysabel's face out of her mind. He knew, of course, that all of this could be an act, but when he saw her lip start to tremble—-

"I want you to know that this has never happened to me before." His pride could go to hell, as long as it meant that hisfidanzatawould stop hurting. "And I know this might not make any difference, but I only used those words to describe your sister on the first night we met. After that, I no longer used those words because for some reason...they no longer seemedsuitable."

It took a moment for Ysabel to realize what he was saying, and another moment for her to understand what those words implied.

Oh, amore mio!

Ysabel had to bite her lip hard to keep herself from crying the words out, and after so many years of struggling to deny the truth of her feelings—-

I love him.

Ysabel knew in her guts that Massimo was telling her the truth, and even though he didn't know it yet—-

He loves me, too.

Because that was what his admission amounted to.

Massimo loved her!

And since this changedeverything,she found herself vigorously shaking her head, which then caused Massimo to stare at her in bemusement.

"I understand."

Massimo's mood turned wary. Were they okay then...just like that? His fights with Ynez were often long and ugly, with his ex-girlfriend sending voice messages to his phone that were full of raging screams and swear words.

"It's not like my sister has a trademark on those words, and besides..."

Her cheeky tone nearly had him smirking, just because.

"It's true, isn't it?"

"What's true?"

"That I'm your little cherry...duh."

This time, Massimo was no longer able to keep the smirk off his lips, which then caused Ysabel to laugh, and the sound of it was...

Fuck!

Massimo knew he should stop comparing the two sisters to each other, but how could he when Ysabel was showing more and more similarities to the girl he had imagined Ynez would be? The girl he had met at the funhouse might have been fiery, but it was also clear to see that she had a sense of humor, just like what Ysabel was showing now...and Ynez never did.

Ysabel suddenly crossed her arms and looked at him challengingly, and Massimo asked, "What?"

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Ysabel asked in her best imitation ofLa Strega's impervious voice. "I alredy admitted I'myourlittle cherry—-"

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