Page 60 of Twisted Minds of Sin

I'm not a saint but he is not a saint either. I knew about his affair with Giada and the only reason I feel like I might owe him any explanation is because of the disrespect. I don't exactly answer him.

“I get why you are suspicious of my motive,” I exhale, “But I know you've known Giada for two years and that you have been in love with her the whole time, so why be angry at me for seeking solace elsewhere?”

He sniggers, “Seeking solace? You humiliated me in public.”

“I didn't know they were taking pictures, I would never have…”

He lifts his hand to stop me, “Save it for someone who cares,” he flicks his index finger in my face, “And that someone isn't Benedetto, stay away from him. He is too good for you.”

I puff, exhausted to my bones. There's no need to fight this or drag it any further. He is mad at me, so I better watch my tone before this ends badly for me.

“You have some nerve coming to my wedding by the way,” he scoffs.

“Benedetto invited me,” I mumble my lie, “I didn't want to let him down.”

“Do him a favor and disappoint him early Rose, ain't nobody got time for your games.”

“For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry.”

He rolls his eyes, then snorts, “I don't want to fight with you, Rose, and I'm not holding any grudges, but I don't trust you. So please, find someone else to glom unto that isn't Benedetto, he doesn't deserve someone like you.”

How dare he play the upright card with me. We are both different ends of a stick, but the same stick nonetheless.

“Like Giada deserves you? Don't forget you were also engaged,” I pout.

“Yeah, I was, but you didn't see the pictures of me and her splashed all over the news, did you?”

I grind my teeth, hating to admit that he has a point

He lifts his eyebrows, “What? Nothing to say?”

I glare at him a quick while, then stomp away from his brooding presence needing to find someplace that doesn't stifle with judgment. I'm the evil witch even though Benedetto, the supposedly good person who doesn't deserve me, assaulted me. I scan the room until I see what I didn't know I was searching for. I relax the moment my eyes find him. Benedetto. At least he is not with the ginger anymore. He is now with Father Lorenzo. I turn in the direction of the appetizers when I hit another brooding chest. What is it with men bumping into me today? I lift my eyes to meet Carlos.

“Hey,” he smiles warmly.

“Hey,” I breathe out.

“You left.”

“Was I not allowed to leave?” I fold my arms across my chest.

“I don't know, you made it look like what it wasn't,” he chuckles.

“And what wasn't it?” I pout.

“Rose, I wasn't trying to force my way through,” he closes the distance and I take a step back, “I was only expressing what I feel for you.”

“And I got it, my response to your expression was running,” I clip.

“I'm not the enemy here, I want to help out.”

“And I don't need your help if that's the price I have to pay, Carlos,” I throw my hands in the air, and I know my voice is pitching but thanks to the disturbingly sadistic classical rendition by the orchestra, it's lost in the crowd.

“You are getting it wrong, Rose. I won't force you, it will be at your will and I know I can make you want to be with me. The price doesn't matter, I'm more than capable of paying up and giving you the world.”

“I don't want you to give me the world, I don't want your help. I am fine,” I say as a matter of fact.

I might not have had a decent past, but I never went about selling myself. Whatever I did with Tiziano was because I wanted to. I would never stoop that low with my body it if I was my choice. It was different when my father asking me to, that much is true.

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