Don't Be Afraid To Love

Chapter 41

I was afraid to turn around because I thought it was just my imagination playing tricks on me and making me hear Robert's voice. Maybe he wasn't actually there. So I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath and then opened my eyes and looked at the city again. I was still afraid to look behind me or to say anything.

"Diana..."

It was him. I wasn't just hearing things. Robert was right behind me.

"I know it was you who told Adela about the rumors about me not being the biological father of Andreya," Robert said to me.

I didn't expect him to be at the party, but I certainly didn't expect him to come talk to me only to reproach me for my mistakes.

"Robert..." I said without turning. I was too ashamed to look him in the eyes.

"And I know you went through my stuff without my permission..."

"I..." I muttered, but Robert interrupted me.

"I was very angry when I found out about your arrangement from work and I just lost it that day."

"Robert..."

"I also know you meant no harm to me with all this..." he added, his voice getting warmer. "Can you please turn around?"

I took another deep breath, wrapped the coat tighter around my body, and turned around to face him.

He was standing about two meters away from me, having his hands in his pockets.

I was afraid to raise my eyes to look into his because I knew for sure I was going to lose myself completely into his green eyes all over again. But I looked at him, nevertheless. His hair and his stubble were neatly arranged, as always, and he wore a shirt and had a tie at his neck just like he was the first time I saw him at Maria's wedding, except now he had his sleeves rolled up.

Robert's eyes were piercing, and there wasn't any sadness or anger printed on his face anymore. I couldn't read his expression.

For a second, I still thought I was dreaming of having Robert there so close, within arm's reach of me.

"I was very upset when I saw you kissing your ex that day in front of your block," Robert confessed, keeping his hands in his pockets.

"But--" I started to say and felt my eyes teary.

"And then when I saw you two buying a Christmas tree together, you seemed so happy that I knew you were already over me," he added.

I had so many things to say to Robert, but I just couldn't find my words.

"You didn't come to the lake..." Robert said with regret, looking down at his shoes.

"It's not that I didn't want to, but..." I trailed off. Somehow, I felt too tired to start explaining myself and tell him everything that happened because it was too much to tell.

He looked back at me and took a step closer.

"It's okay. I already know. Maria told me everything you said to her earlier."

"Maria?" I asked and looked at the other side of the terrace and saw her. She looked at me grinning and held both her thumbs up.

I just realized she set that whole thing up. She arranged that Robert and I met at the party. That was why she insisted on me being there.

For once, her big mouth paid off, I thought, thanking her in my head for telling Robert everything, because maybe he wouldn't have believed it if he heard it directly from me, and maybe I wouldn't have had the energy to explain myself anymore.