Page 45 of What She Wants

“Yasmin, thank you for coming to my wedding,” I say to her.

Yasmin gives me a small smile. “Can’t believe you actually went through with it.”

The second I open my mouth to say something, my mother cuts me off.

“They’re not serious. It’s all for show just like it is for every Founder’s marriage. Esme doesn’t really love my son,” she states and lightly moves Yasmin closer to me. “It doesn’t mean they can’t step out of their marriage. Trust me,hijo, Yasmin will do right by you. You two did have explosive nights, right?”

She says a little bit louder and my eyes go to Karessa, who is walking right by us.

“What the fuck!”

Never has the thought of me dropping my mother out of my life occurred to me but at this moment, she was trying to sabotage what I was building. At my fucking wedding? Is she serious?

Grabbing her by the elbow, I escort her out of the reception hall and drag her to the foyer. I don’t need everyone to hear how I’m about to speak to my mother, not even my father.

This is the last straw. She was already hanging by a thread with the bullshit she pulled, this is it and my heart hurts that I have to put distance between my mother and I. Unfortunately, she needs to learn what the fuck boundaries are.

* * *

Esme

The song changes and I realize that I’ve been giggling with myfather-in-lawentirely too long. He winks as he merengues off and catches my mom before she can get away. She’s immediately giggling because Daddy Delgado is charming but it’s obvious that he’s not trying to pick any of us up. He is really here for the party. My dad, however, isn’t amused that Santí is all over his woman. It’s actually funny because my dad rarely gets jealous. The rest of the Delgados are a wild bunch while the select few of the Leóns look on smugly. It doesn’t matter, I’m wondering where Marín went.

Yasmin stands, staring off into one direction while rubbing her arm as if she’s uncomfortable. Any jealousy I felt in the past dissipates because she looks towards the door like she wants to leave but there isn’t any sadness or longing in her expression, just a sense of feeling out of place. I grab a glass from a passing waiter and take it to her. She looks surprised before she gives me a half smile and takes it.

“Enjoy the party, if you’re able to get in, no one will try to kick you out.”

“What?” She asks, confused.

“Relax and enjoy the party.”

She takes a sip of her wine, her glossy hair falls forward then she tucks it behind her ear when she looks at me again.

“It’s not that. I was invited under false pretenses and now I feel blindsided.” She shakes her head and forces a smile. “Never mind. Enjoy your wedding.”

Her eyes go back in the same direction and now I’m curious why she keeps looking in the hallway.

“I’m sorry someone made you uncomfortable. Don’t let it ruin the night. Go party.”

I walk in the direction she was looking because this has Mireya written all over it and if I have to fight her I’ll do just that.

I slow down as I hear voices because I need to know what’s going on.

“Never. NEVER again try to give me a mistress, Mamá!” Marín practically yells. “What in the hell were you thinking?”

Mireya scoffs. “You don’t love her. Stop with this charade and get an annulment. You belong with Yasmin. You’ve made your point.”

Marín raises his hands like he wants to choke his mom but puts them in his hair instead. If he could, I bet he’d pull all of it out.

“I’m 40. An established adult. I don’t need to do a damn thing to make a point. I don’t care if you don’t like my wife, just don’t disrespect her or print bullshit about her…”

“You only married her to spite me! She’s poisoning you against me.”

“I married her to help her shut you up. What kind of unhinged psychopath cyberbullies a woman ten years younger than her son? Sometimes people become too old for stuff and this is one of them. Esme doesn’t talk about you.

She didn’t ask me to do a damn thing.You’repoisoning me against you. I’ve tried my best to be a loving son but you keep trying to destroy what’s left of your family with your nonsense. No one gives a damn about the Founders Table but you. You’re 60 years old, you’re never getting to the table. This was something that happened beforeAbuelo.Let. It. Die. The Leóns weren’t here in the beginning.”

Mireya tilts her head. “Don’t speak to me like that.”

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