Clayton’s voice dropped, sharp and scornful. "Irene is afraid of the pain. That’s why I didn’t let her have children. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any of this with you."
A bitter smile curled on my lips, the taste of betrayal thick and suffocating. This wasn’t the man I thought I knew.
Separated only by a thin wall, he used the guise of our anniversary to steal moments with his lover.
Was he so intoxicated by youthful allure? Or was it the thrill of something forbidden that kept him hooked?
I shook my head, heartbreak clawing at my chest and turned to leave. Just as I pivoted, I was suddenly pinned against the wall.
Matias, his eyes burning red with emotion, held me firmly in place.
"Irene, why do you insist on torturing yourself like this?"
It turned out he had been silently watching me from the shadows all along.
"If he’s betrayed you, why not take revenge? I wouldn’t mind being your weapon for payback..." he said, his voice dropping as he leaned in to kiss me.
But I pushed him away before he could get any closer.
A flicker of sadness danced in his eyes before he masked it with a bitter smile. "I knew it, Irene. You still love him, don’t you?"
I shook my head, my voice steady. "Not at this moment."
His gaze lingered on me, searching for something unspoken.
I let out a cold sneer. "I might consider dating you, but only after I’ve divorced him."
A look of stunned disbelief crossed Matias’s face. "You’re serious?"
"Fine. I’ll wait for you."
"Walk with me. I need to sober up," I said.
Half an hour later, Clayton emerged from the bathroom, his expression smug and satisfied. But when he returned to the suite, I was nowhere to be found.
He panicked.
"Irene! Where did you go?"
His calls came through, but I silenced them, letting his desperation echo unanswered.
When he finally found me, I was walking toward the suite door with Matias by my side.
"Irene, where on earth were you? I called, and you didn’t answer. You scared me!" he exclaimed, pulling me into an eager embrace, his relief palpable.
"Good girl, don’t wander off again. You gave me quite a fright."
"Thanks, Matias. You’re such a reliable brother. I owe you a meal for bringing Irene back."
He clung to his fantasy, preferring to believe I had simply gotten lost and that Matias had been my savior rather than confront the truth of his own betrayal.