Love & Affinities (18+)

51

TWO WEEKS LATER

SOFIA MARCELLO

"Will you be attending it?" Ronan asks me, successfully snapping me out of my thoughts. I need to do this cautiously.

"I'll let you know by tomorrow morning, Ronan. Have you sorted out the arrangements?" He grimaces at the question.

"You know you don't have to do this, right? I know we're playing husband and wife but think about your decision again. There's time." I wish I could but there's only one end to this.

I have to take care of my demons myself. Till when will I take cover behind others? I have to stop him before  he ruins everything even if I'm the one ruined in the end. Then he leaves for a meeting while I stay in his apartment. 

But if there's a chance Alex will show up, I'll have to go there anyways. It's in two days and I have to think carefully. I haven't told anyone except Ronan about what happened in the elevator. He's only going against his brother because he knows that his life is at risk. He doesn't know that I'm willing to go back to Alex so he stops. 

Ronan said he'd be upgrading security and baiting Alex by using Adriano as bait. I sit on the bed and look through my phone. Our pictures. A stray tear crawls down my skin and I wipe it away only to unleash a dam of tears. 

 I wish I could go back to him. 

ADRIANO ENZO CALVETI 

"Which one looks better, Adriano?" Samantha twirls in front of me in a red skimpy dress. She looks good but I can't care enough to give a fuck. 

"Just pick out whatever you want and hand it over a the counter. I'm leaving behind my card."

"You're leaving?" 

"Yes, I have work to do." I leave the store without waiting for her response. I lean into the seat of my car and take out a cigarette. Putting it between my lips, I light it and open my phone to look at Ronan's message.

Ronan: We need to talk. 

Fuck you. I leave him on seen and press the back icon when my fingers accidentally open our messages. My heart aches to the point where I pummel my fist into the dashboard to release the ache in my heart. My hand grips the phone ready to lurch it but I physically can't. 

I see the photo I took of her when she was sleeping peacefully. I can't fucking believe that she was fucking someone else behind my back. That too my own brother. I don't know what hurts more. The fact that my brother betrayed me or the fact that  Fuck, I hate talking about her like that. The memory of that revelation stings me hard as I try not to recall it. 

"I do love you, Ad. But- I- I've been seeing someone else since a long time. It's only fair if I go back to him." My heart drops to my stomach. No, she's lying. She's not like that, Ad. 

"Sofia, I know something else happened and it's bothering you, baby. Just tell me please. I can help. You don't have to lie." I cup her face which now shows no emotions. 

"I'm sorry, Ad."

"No! Stop fucking lying to me!" I yell at her as the sound resonates throughout the room. She gets off of me and bows her head. I could let her go if she loved someone else. But she made me weak and I'm not angry about it. Me becoming weak for her was like I got my favorite toy on Christmas morning. 

I hate that she made me fall for her. And there's not a line in the world that I wouldn't cross for her. "Why do you need to rethink your decision when you just said that you love me?"