Page 35 of Sin and Seduction

“Dante,slow down, please! Let me explain!” I call after him, chasing him through the foyer.

He stops and turns to me, his hand on the doorknob.

“Explain? Yes, please explain how mywifeknew about my sister's pregnancy with fucking Rowen? Please explain how you found it was important to tell your friend and notyour husband,”he hisses at me, his projected anger making me flinch.

“I didn’t plan to tell him.Shetold him. I was going to tell you—”

“When!” he shouts, towering over me.

“When Gabriela wanted me to. I promised to keep her secret in the meantime. She’s scared shitless, Dante,” I explain, but his eyes look so angry staring at me, it makes my stomach churn.

“I’m your husband, Esmeralda,” he says darkly.

“I made her a promise, Dante—”

“She’s my sister!” he roars. “My baby sister, Emmie. Pregnant with the enemy's child.”

“He’s not the enemy anymore, Dante. He gave us intel about Diego. He can work with us and end this fight once and for all,” I say, and he shoots daggers at me with his amber eyes.

“It amazes me how you have more trust in a man who pointed a gun at your head more than your own husband,” he snaps at me, fueling my anger now.

“Let's not forget who held me at gunpoint the first time he met me,” I hiss at him, and he flinches.

“What’s all the chaos about?” Camila says, rushing in with Ricky’s parents as Ricky and Gabriela come inside, tears pouring down Gabriela’s face.

“Go ahead,baby.Tell them, tell everyone the little secret you kept for my whore of a sister,” Dante hisses, and I snap.

“Don’t you ever call her that again!” I defend her as Gabriela lets out a sob, her hands going to her stomach and holding it protectively.

“Gabriela...what’s happened?” Camila asks with a frown, and we all fall silent.

“Now you’re too afraid to speak up? Cat caught your tongue, mi ciela?” Dante hisses. “Don’t worry. I’ll save you the hassle. It seems little sister here decided to get knocked up by one of Juan Carlos’s men. And let me guess by the way she’s holding that precious belly, she wants to keep it?” Dante asks as Camila gasps.

“Yes, yes I do,” Gabriela sobs, weeping loudly as she holds her stomach.

“What have you done, child?” Camila says angrily, staring at Gabriela.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not sticking around for this,” Dante says, opening the front door and walking out.

“Dante, wait! We’re planning a wedding!” I say desperately, and he barks out a harsh laugh.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Emmie. We’re planning a baby shower now,” he hisses before slamming the door in my face, leaving me stunned.

“Emmie, I’m so sorry. God, I’m sorry—” Gabriela weeps, but Camila hushes her.

“Enough out of you. Go to your room now. I’ll meet you shortly. Geroge and Michele, I am so sorry about this. Ricky, if you wouldn’t mind taking them to the dining room and making yourselves comfortable, Maria will get you anything you need,” she says, and they all turn and leave.

“Esmeralda—” she says, but I stop her.

“Excuse me,” I say, tears in my eyes as I climb the stairs to my bedroom.

* * *

I’ve spent the majority of the afternoon crying off and on in the bedroom. The pillows still smell like Dante, and it only makes me sob harder. The look of betrayal on his face burned into my mind’s eye. I’ve never seen him that angry at me before, and this is the man who once held me hostage. To think that only an hour ago, I was trying on my wedding dress and dreaming about our wedding day. Now, I stare at my wedding ring and weep into the pillows. A knock sounds at the door, and I sit up and wipe my eyes.

Camila enters and closes the door behind her, her eyes tired as she sits next to me on the bed. I can’t even meet her eyes out of shame. I’ve lied to her in her own house and tried on her anniversary dress. I feel every ounce of shame creep back and do my best to stifle my new sobs.

“Hush now, Emmie. There’s no need for that,” she says calmly, no trace of anger or hatred in her voice.

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