Page 53 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
EVA:The weather was beautiful, and I had a very good day.I'm tired, going to bed.See you tomorrow.
TRISTAN:See you tomorrow, sweetheart.
"Sweetheart."These words, which once warmed my heart, now made me want to scream.When I put down my phone, I collapsed onto the bed, clutching the pillow against me as if it could ease the pain and fill the gaping void in my heart.I knew I would have to confront Tristan, demand answers, but for now, all I wanted was to cry.The image of Tristan devouring her with his eyes was like shards of glass under my skin.I curled up under the covers, hoping sleep or oblivion would soon deliver me from this torture.
Sleep didn't come, and by early morning, something changed within me.I was nothing but an immense emptiness.Everything that mattered and had value to me was gone, drowned in torrents of tears.A few days ago, I wondered when one should let go.I know now.
In the end, there was an advantage to a secret relationship: no one would care about our breakup.No one would know that my world had just collapsed.
Marco came to get me the next day, at the time my original flight was supposed to land.One more lie.Neither of us spoke during the trip, although I constantly felt his concerned gaze on me.I went up to our penthouse in a daze, each step bringing me closer to a confrontation I dreaded as much as I desired.Arriving at the door, I stopped, uncertain, aware that the next few minutes would change the course of my life forever.
No, that wasn't true.
My life had already imploded.
Was I ready to face Tristan?
No.I didn't want to see him or read the lies and betrayals on his face.I didn't know yet if I wanted to confront him or erase him from my life.Whatever my choice, I was afraid of what it would mean for us.
But what was the point in prolonging the torture?
Whether now or in an hour, the truth would be just as cruel.
It was time to end this charade.
My hand didn't tremble when I lowered the door handle.This new strength almost surprised me, as if my body had already accepted what my heart still refused to admit.
32.I needed to talk to Eva
TRISTAN
Last night, when Audrey had undressed in front of me, I had been petrified, overwhelmed by desire as violent as it was forbidden.She had always had the art of inflaming my senses and turning my brain inside out.In her presence, I felt more alive, rediscovering the intoxicating sensations of first attractions.The pull she exerted pushed me to contemplate the worst follies.Near her, I forgot everything: my responsibilities, my goals, and even the promises made to the woman who shared my life.During a terrible moment of weakness, I had even envisioned a different future where Eva would no longer be part of it.This thought now chilled me with horror.How could I have even considered it?
It was only when Audrey's hand touched me to undress me that lucidity caught up with me brutally, like a bucket of ice water.
"No," I told her, pushing her away gently but firmly.
My hands trembled slightly as I picked up her dress, handing it to her without looking at her.The tension in the room was palpable, electric.I was disconcerted, helpless.I had to both fight my desire and take care not to hurt Audrey.How do you reject the favors of a woman offering herself to you?How do you push her away without breaking her?
Then Eva's image imposed itself, stronger than anything.If I had to choose between hurting one or the other, my choice had been made long ago.Eva would always be my priority.She had always been, even if my recent actions sometimes suggested otherwise.I needed to end this ambiguous situation.I had no choice.I refused to be one of those men who look in the mirror in the morning knowing they're living a lie, who kiss their partner at night while still carrying another's perfume on their skin.
"No," I said firmly, my voice regaining all its assurance."I'm sorry, Audrey.This will never be an option."
The tension in my shoulders finally released.For the first time since this dangerous attraction had begun, I felt at peace with my decision and proud to have resisted temptation.Deep down, I knew I had just taken a decisive step.
From this episode, I had learned a crucial lesson: I needed to talk to Eva.
Things had gone too far.I had no right to keep silent while another woman was trying to seduce me.True, I had pushed Audrey away, but not before yielding to a certain attraction.All these small betrayals accumulated had tainted my relationship with Eva.She deserved my honesty, my confessions.Without that, the lies would continue to rot our relationship from the inside.
Eva deserved the truth, even if she would hate me for it.The idea that she might leave me terrified me, but keeping her in the dark any longer would be cowardly and unworthy of what we had built together.
I knew I was taking an enormous risk by talking to her, but delaying this moment would only hurt her more.The thought that Eva would have her heart broken upon learning of my repeated betrayals tied my stomach in knots.She didn't deserve the pain I was about to inflict.But it was time I tried to become the man she deserved.
33.She's not like that!
EVA
Standing in front of the living room window, Tristan turned around when I arrived, a half-smile stretching his features.He wore a white T-shirt that hugged his shoulders and athletic chest, along with dark, fitted jeans.His beauty hurt me.He came forward, took me in his arms, and kissed my temple to say hello.I let him do it without protest, my body as rigid as a statue.I was in a state of shock, as if I were observing the scene from the outside, a helpless spectator to my own life falling apart.
