Imprisoned by secrets

Chapter 21

Present day...

"So if I'm getting this right, after everything mother did, you still slept with her sister! I knew there was a reason you seemed so happy when you returned from your trip to Spain." Beatrice snorted after Hector finished his story.

Leila glared at her daughter, wishing she could slap her again. She knew her daughter was trying to infuriate her.

"I hardly see what is funny. Your father had an affair!" Leila snapped.

"Oh, it's very funny to me. So tell me, how was the morning after? I'm pretty sure it was awkward." Beatrice said.

Hector scratched his nose with a long, thin finger.
"It was. Bella was embarrassed. She felt so guilty. I didn't feel bad though. I wasn't that drunk." He said.

Leila gave him a look of disgust.
"Just listen to yourself. You're proud you slept with my sister." She said.

Hector rolled his eyes but didn't bother replying her. He just stared ahead like there was no one else in the room.

"You should have seen her. She started picking her clothes off the floor while holding the sheets to her chest. People always say your mother was the most beautiful Herrera daughter. Leila has even posed nude for some of the most famous artists. One committed suicide when he heard she was getting married to someone else. But to me, Bella was the most beautiful woman in the world. I begged her to stay." He sighed.

Beatrice raised her eyebrows at that.
"And did she stay?" She asked.

Hector gave a dry laugh.
"She didn't want to at first. I persuaded her. Besides, if Leila had been in her shoes, she'd have done way worse." He said.

Leila looked at her husband with contempt.

"So you two began an affair in Spain," Beatrice announced.

Her father nodded.
"I came to Spain thinking I was completely over Bella. I honestly thought I was content with my new life. When I left Spain, I knew I had never been a free man. We continued seeing each other for a long time." Hector said.

"How were you able to even carry on an affair with a woman who practically avoided you since you married her sister without people getting suspicious?" Ethan asked.

Hector was so nostalgic that he didn't even realize who'd asked the question. If he had, perhaps he wouldn't have answered.

"If a man truly loves you, he would find time to be with you regardless of all the obstacles. I was able to do that. I didn't even care if Leila found out. Leila is proud. She'd never have let anyone know her husband cheated on her. Besides, she only married me to ensure her sister wouldn't be able to." He replied in a trance-like state.

"A trip here and there would have made it easy for you to see her. But most affairs don't end well. Somethings aren't clear to me." Beatrice said.

Hector nodded.
"I can see why. The story isn't over. We carried on with our affair for quite a while. About three years or so then something happened." He said.

Beatrice noticed that everyone in the room was leaning forward at that point except Leila who was pretending she couldn't hear the story.

Her pride was still bruised by the fact that her husband had chosen her sister after everything she had done to snatch him away. Hector was the only man who had ever been able to resist Leila.

Beatrice noticed that Leila didn't look surprised by what Hector was saying. She just looked triumphant like she was pleased. It just showed that despite everything that had happened, Leila had still won. She still got the man.