Page 22 of Her Brutal First Love

"Shall I order for you?" Justina offered. "Maybe something iced? Giancarlo mentioned your sensitive tongue, which is very like him."

"Oh?"

"Giancarlo has a talent for discovering people's vulnerabilities...and going out of his way to protect them from it."

Did this woman just make a dig about her?

"Oh, but before I forget...thank you, by the way. And I'm saying that with complete sincerity."

"For what?"

"Your passionate defense for Giancarlo online."

Sarica's expression turned blank. "I'm not sure—-"

"I used to work at a salon," Justin cut her off gently. "Hair colors were a specialty of mine, and your usernames..."

Sarica could only wince at this point.

"Item codes of a popular beauty company, and they just so happen to match the shade of your hair during time of posting."

Sarica forced herself to smile. "You got me."

"No, Sarica.Yougothim.While everyone was happy to drag Giancarlo down, you worked twice as hard in putting the truth out there. You didn't allow anyone to get away with painting him a monster online. Every loser in Boston wanted to feel good at his expense, but you single-handedly destroyed all of them. And as his wife—-"

Sarica's world crashed as Justina reached across the table to take her hand.

"I know it's several years too late, but I can't thank you enough for it."

Chapter Nine

Justina ended the call with practiced grace, her French-manicured nails gleaming as she set her phone down. "Giancarlo asks that we wait here. My husband will join us."

Bile rose to Sarica's throat at the way Justina uttered Giancarlo's name with affectionate possessiveness, and her mind, unbidden, conjured images she didn’t want to see.

Giancarlo and Justina together, their bodies entwined, their breaths mingling in the dark.

But since it was Giancarlo and Justina who were married—-

Didn't that make her the villain in this story instead of the other way around?

Justina indicated Sarica's already-empty glass. "Would you like another one?"

What I'd like,Sarica thought,is Giancarlo back, and for you to disappear.

Shame ate her alive as soon as the thought popped into her mind, and Sarica managed to shake her head with a polite smile. "I'm fine, thanks."

Sarica made a show of texting someone on her phone, but it was all for show. She just didn't have it in her to indulge in small talk with a woman who professed to be Giancarlo's wife.

What now, God?

What do I do?

What do You want me to do?

The Giancarlo she knew would never have made love to her if he was truly married. But what if she was wrong? What if he had really changed that much?

And if Giancarlowasmarried, then—-

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