Prologue 2
ESTRELLA ACOSTA - AGE 25
I spent the entire night in Paul Bouvier’s bed. Our lovemaking was gentle yet passionate, with whispered words of love every time he was inside me.
Even with my limited experience with men—Paul was only my second lover—I could tell he was skilled. Very skilled. He made my body sing in a way I didn’t know was possible. Probably because there was true love thrumming between us.
I had an IUD, so we hadn’t bothered with protection, a decision we made together before the first time. And there were many times that night. Dios, the man was a machine.
I rose early and dressed before kissing my sleeping man’s cheek. “I’ll be back in about an hour,” I whispered, and he smiled a lazy, sated smile up at me as his hands gripped my waist.
“Can I tempt you for one more round?” he asked in a sexy voice filled with morning grit.
Pulling away with a laugh, I shook my head. “No, I have to go to my apartment and change clothes so I can be back in time for you to go to work.”
He groaned and swiped a hand through his deliciously messy hair. “One day, you’ll live with me and won’t have to leave.” His thumb traced a lazy line against my cheekbone. “Is that still what you want?”
I was surprised the thudding inside my chest didn’t wake the children. “I think so,” I teased. “You were pretty impressive last night, Mr. Bouvier.”
A grin full of mischief curled his lips up at the corners. “Glad you approved, Ms. Acosta. Why don’t you pack a bag so you can stay with me again tonight?”
“I can’t,” I told him, sweeping a lock of hair from his forehead. “I have to leave right after work to help my sister with her immigration papers. I was born here, but she’s a few years older than me and was born in Cuba. We’re trying to get her citizenship.”
He pulls me to him for a soft kiss. “Okay, but I’m going to miss having you in my arms all night. I think I’m addicted to you, Star.”
I loved that nickname, which was my name in English. “I’m addicted to you too,” I admit.
“I love you, baby,” he said, and my breath caught in my chest, exactly how it had every time he’d told me that last night. “Make plans to stay with me on Friday night. I haven’t had nearly enough of you.”
Heat flushed my face and then seeped down my body as I caressed his handsome face. “I love you too.”
As soon as I walked into my tiny apartment, I found my sister sitting on the couch with her arms crossed over her chest. Oh shit.
“Maya, hi!” I said, way too chirpily, which only deepened the frown on her face.
“Where. Have. You. Been?”
“I, uh, stayed over at the Bouvier house. I’m so sorry I didn’t call, but I got… distracted.”
Her eyebrows pinched so close together, they were at risk of becoming a unibrow. “By your boss’s penis?”
Dammit. Maya can read me like a book. I never should have told her about our love confessions.
“That’s none of your business,” I said airily, heading to my bedroom, but my sister followed.
“So that’s a yes. What are you thinking, Estrella, sleeping with a married man?”
“He’s getting a divorce, and we’re going to be together.”
Maya scoffed in disbelief. “Honey, there’s no way that man is going to leave his wife. That’s just something rich men say to get in your panties.”
“You don’t understand,” I snapped. “Paul really loves me.”
“Billionaires don’t marry women like us,” she shot back, and my stomach dropped to the floor.
She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
My voice softened. “Look, Maya, I need to shower and get back to work. I appreciate your concern, but we know what we’re doing.”
She stepped forward and ran her slim fingers through my hair. “Honey, you are so sweet and naive. He’s eight years older than you, and I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know,” I murmured, “but trust me on this. He’s already sent her the divorce papers.”
“Did he show them to you?”
No.
“I need to get to work in time to take Auburn to school,” I deflected. “I’ll be home this evening to help you with your paperwork.”
Maya’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Just be careful, okay? I love you and I worry about you.”
“I love you too,” I told her, giving her a hard hug before making a shooing motion with my hands. “Now let me get ready.” I needed her out of here so she didn’t see the love marks Paul’s mouth left all over my body.
With a reluctant nod, she left the room, and I headed to the small bathroom. Removing my shirt, I traced my fingers over the hickeys my man had sucked onto me each time he’d proclaimed me as his.
And I would be Paul Bouvier’s. Forever.
As soon as I was done with work Thursday, I headed home to help Maya, but not before Paul gave me a long kiss at the door and told me he loved me. I was pretty sure my feet didn’t even touch the ground until I arrived at my apartment.
The immigration paperwork was long and confusing, but we finally wrapped it up and went to bed without speaking of our argument that morning. Thank god. I hated fighting with my sister.
On Friday, I took an overnight bag with me to Paul’s house since he wanted me to stay the night again. Auburn was at school, and Evie had just woken from her nap when I heard the garage door open about noon. With the baby on my hip, I looked up from where I was spooning mashed bananas into a bowl.
To my utter shock, Chloe Bouvier strutted into the kitchen, and I swallowed hard, instantly eaten up by guilt. As horrible as the woman was, I had slept with her husband.
“M-Mrs. Bouvier. Welcome home.”
“Hmmm, soooo nice to see you, Estrella,” she said in her trademark catty voice.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while.” Since you basically abandoned your husband and children , I thought but didn’t say aloud. Instead, I injected faux cheerfulness into my voice. “Evie has two new teeth. Would you like to take her?”
The bitch from hell barely glanced at her baby and shook her head. Good lord, she hasn’t seen her child in three months, and she’s not even going to hold her?
“No, I’d like for you to put the baby down so we can have a little… chat.”
The way she said that last word made my stomach roll over, but I nodded. Carrying Evie to the living room, I placed her in her playpen and returned to the kitchen.
Chloe was dressed in a pristine camel-colored wool coat, looking like a million bucks as she leaned against the counter with her arms crossed over her middle. “How long have you been sleeping with my husband, Estrella?”
I practically choked on my own tongue as I felt heat stain my face bright red. “I, uh, I don’t…” Dammit, I was such a shitty liar.
“You might as well tell me the truth. I already know.”
What? How?
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I managed to say, unable to meet the woman’s eye, which I was sure only made me look more guilty.
She let out a laugh that would put the Wicked Witch of the West to shame. “Let me guess. He told you he was going to marry you, right?” Then she made a tsking sound as she pushed away from the counter and strolled toward me until she was right in my space. “Oh, you poor, dumb girl. Men like Paul Bouvier don’t marry… the help .” Her perfectly glossed lips made a popping sound on the last word.
Biting the inside of my cheek to stave off the impending tears, I simply shook my head. I had no words.
“I’m going to need you to vacate my home immediately. Your services are no longer needed.” The snide curl of her mouth was laced with derision and bitchiness.
“Mrs. B-bouvier, I don’t know what you mean.”
One of her eyebrows arched high on her smooth forehead. “You see, I have some very happy news,” she said, unbuttoning her coat, “Paul and I are expecting another baby.” Her hands rested on the barely there bump that was obvious on her normally thin frame.
No, no, no. That can’t be right.
But he did say he slept with her before she left… and used a condom… which she provided.
“Congratulations,” I heard myself squeak, though that was the furthest sentiment from my mind. In fact, the mere thought made me nauseous.
“Thank you,” she said in a cultured, superior tone. “Paul was thrilled when I told him. He’s hoping for another girl. You know how much he adores Evelyn.”
“Yes,” I whispered, staring at the floor because I simply could not look at her for one more second.
“So, like I said, we would like you to leave our home.”
My eyes snapped to hers. This couldn’t be right. Paul wouldn’t abandon me. He loves me.
“I can see you’re questioning me, Estrella, but I assure you this is what my husband and I want. In fact, Paul said to give you this for your… troubles.”
She stuffed something into my purse on the counter, and I glanced over to see stacks of hundred-dollar bills sticking out the top.
“I don’t want your money,” I insisted, humiliation thrumming through me.
“Trust me, you’re going to need it. My husband and I decided it would be best if you left New York altogether.” It wasn’t lost on me that she kept emphasizing the my husband part. Chloe took another step forward until I could feel her breath on my face. Her voice was low and dangerous. “Otherwise, immigration services might receive an anonymous phone call.” Her smile could have belonged to Satan himself.
Panic rose up in my throat even as I lifted my chin. “I was born in this country.”
The horrible woman tilted her head to the side and smiled smugly. “But your sister wasn’t, was she?” She proceeded to rattle off my sister’s name and date of birth before her smile turned into a feral baring of straight white teeth. “Be gone by Monday night, or I’ll have your sister deported. And trust me, I can do it. Power and money can buy pretty much anything.”
Except a soul.
“I want to speak with Pa—with Mr. Bouvier,” I corrected, and her brows narrowed.
“Paul. Does. Not. Want. You. Maybe he enjoyed getting between your legs for a bit, but now, with our new addition, he wants to make our marriage work for the sake of our children.” To drive the point home, she rubbed her belly. “You will not contact him, now or ever. Am I understood?”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, and I started to protest, but she grabbed my chin in a harsh grip, pure evil glowing in her eyes.
“I want you gone, you little slut.” She shoved, and I stumbled back a few steps, catching myself on the counter behind me. Picking up my purse, Chloe crammed it into my hands. “I think my husband has been more than generous. I would have sent you packing with absolutely nothing, but he’s too goddamn soft for his own good. There’s plenty of money here for you and your illegal sister to go back to Texas to be with your family. If you ever contact my husband again, having your sister deported will be the least of your worries.”
The ferocity on her face put a fear into me like I’d never known, and I clutched my purse to my chest and backed away, never turning my back on her until I was in the foyer.
And then I ran.
Four days later, the unending tears were still streaming down my face as we passed through Houston and headed south on Interstate 45 to Galveston.
“I’m sorry, Estrella,” Maya said for about the millionth time, clutching my hand in hers. To her credit, she hadn’t said I told you so a single time.
My heart was shattered. I missed little Auburn and Evie. I loved them so much, and god help me, I still loved Paul, despite his betrayal.
We arrived at my parents’ small home, where Maya and I would live until we found a place of our own. I stayed holed up in my bedroom, not speaking and barely eating. I’d never felt more broken.
And two months after that, I stood in the bathroom and stared down at the stick that informed me I was pregnant with Paul Bouvier’s baby.
A baby he could never know about.