Page 94 of Forbidden Deception

Dakota cheated on Dad, and he could take that, but her almost destroying my career was what pushed him and Mikko over the edge? Despite her being Eiran and Khyros’s mother?

I know why she didn’t like me, seeing as I was taking over Gustav’s empire while her two sons were still young and unable to, but surely… I run a hand over my face.

I can’t wrap my head around what they just revealed to me.

How were they able to get it done and keep their involvement quiet?

Do we truly have that much power that…

I can’t believe it.

37

My vision blurs and a wave of nausea hits me.

The only way to deal with this heartbreak is to pass out, so I can’t think about it anymore.

My phone rings making me jump. The eery silence and the ringing making my skin prick with awareness. Emptiness in the cold apartment feels odd tonight. It feels wrong.

“What kind of movies do you like?” Rafael asks, his chin resting on top of my head.

I snuggle closer. “Thriller and horror. I love them so much. I love the thrill and the adrenaline rush.” I sigh.

Rafael’s chuckle vibrates through me. “Of course you do.”

“Hey, what is that supposed to mean?” I pout, moving away so I can look him in the eyes.

He grins down at me, then grabs my chin and pulls me into a quick kiss.

“You would definitely outsmart the killer or monster.”

I finally pick up the phone after it rings the third time.

“Venezia, you had me so worried. What is troubling you that you sent me a voicemail crying?” Aurora’s panicked voice fills my ear.

Tears instantly fill my eyes, and she sees this though the screen.

“Please don’t cry. Tell me what is wrong,” she says softly.

I sniffle, blinking, then look at the ceiling to dam the tears, but Rafael’s voice and laugh ring in my head, and it shatters me all over again.

“Aurora, I messed up. I didn’t know it would be like this,” I whisper, my breaths quickening. “I didn’t think I would fall so hard like this. I can’t rip myself away from him without hurting myself and him in the process, I can’t…I don’t know what to do, and it’s killing me,” I cry, squeezing my eyes closed. My tears fall onto my lap and soak the letter I tried to write for Rafael.

“Venezia, my beautiful girl, who is it? Did someone hurt you?”

I shake my head, her tender voice once again punching me in the gut.

I open my eyes and look at her frown.

She’s holding the phone so carefully, looking at me as if to not miss anything.

“I—” I choke on my words. “Aurora, I…fell for Rafael,” I sob out, my body shaking. “I couldn’t help myself, and it’s far too late to save myself. He’ll find out any day now that I…I am the one who betrayed him, and Remo is my brother. Then our whole relationship will look like a sham to him. But my feelings… they were never… they were never false.” I shake my head, covering my face with my hand.

“Venezia, I—”

“I am sending the jet. You are coming home, Venezia,” a deep voice announces.

My head snaps up.

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