beeping machines. My eyes felt very heavy as I opened them, squinting because the hos

w," said a v

e dark circles under his eyes showed he hadn't slept.

ake," he s

p of water from the table by my bed, gently helping me lift my h

was I out?

oward mine but then pulled back. "The doctors s

roken I felt inside. I tried to mo

y carefully. Being so close to him-smelling his clean cologne, feeling hi

tures: Carlos and Daniela in my bed together, rain hitting my car window, the awful sound of cra

ought me back. "Are you hurti

calm, hoping it seem

ot believing me. "You don't

wh

ing me. "I know that look. I had the s

n the air between us. I'd almost fo

ee here is awful, but there's a good cafe across the st

myself cry-quiet tears burning down my cheeks. I cried for the baby I lost two years ago

ther, though my eyes were still red. He acted like

he said. "Sofia told me

ee was so different from Carlos's not caring. When wa

sipping the hot drink. "I'm sure you have mor

s more important than making sure you're okay. Besides, yo

eel cold inside. I put down my

Carlos and Da

id they'd be here this morning." He paused. "

ffee, buying time.

too. I couldn't eat or sleep. I couldn't design buildings without seeing her in every line I drew." His v

I whi

erything fake until only truth is left." He looked straight a

rainy road-a painful, burning clarity about my mar

children," I blurted out. "The cra

reshest wound, but something about Alejand

with real care. "I

st simple understanding of my pain. I

ice small. "Carlos never wanted chil

owing more than I meant to. Alejandro's

ly, changing the subject.

r purse and phone are in that cabinet." H

you... would you min

ide me. As I reached for it, our fingers touched. Something like

ed, suddenly needing t

thing I need

rying a huge bunch of red roses. Daniela followed right behind him,

barely noticed Alejandro was there. "We came as s

y own eyes, in bed with Daniela just yesterday, I might have believed him. The roses

taking my hand possessively. "Why didn't you call me? I woul

shoulder like she touched him all the time. "We were s

saw nothing but calculation in their eyes. For years, I'd been blind to how they manipulated me, des

rlos's grip, my smile stiff.

y tone before he looked at Alejandro

los demanded, his

ere supposed to meet at the fundraiser. I'm

." His dismissive tone made the title sound like an insult. "Than

ndro's eye, silently begging. Understanding passed between us-a wordles

out the hospital designs. She was very eager to see the updated

needs rest, not work talk. Maybe

jandro saved my life. He pulled me from the crashed car and

ore his mask of concern came back. "Then we owe you, Mr. Vega.

ection. I gave him a small nod, though eve

k on you tomorrow, if that's okay? We sti

poke. "Please do. And Alejandro

th, forcing him to step around her. The territorial display wasn

s's caring expression vanished. He dro

as he doing her

. The fear that had shaped our relationship for years

plied evenly. "Since my hu

hat I was still blind to their betrayal. They had no idea that I had seen them together, that I had p

ould play the obedient, unsuspecting wife a little longer. I would gather evidence, protect my money, and

ill breathing. And that was eno