Chapter Forty Drea
Despite fearing this day would come, I’d never actually envisioned it. I hadn’t imagined what it would be like when Leo confronted me about my lies. Even if I had, I don’t think I could’ve ever done justice to the emotions that played out on Leo’s face.
“Who is Luca’s father?” he demanded.
My hands came to cradle my bump protectively. “I don’t know,” I whispered.
Leo jabbed a finger at me. “If you think lying to me right now will protect you, let me assure you that it won’t.”
“I am being honest.”
“Dammit, Drea–”
I held up a shaky hand. “Please. Let me explain.”
“Fine.”
“I think it’s fair to say that everything went off the rails for us after that night at Inferno.”
When Leo didn’t respond, I continued on, “Remember how I told you I’d gone to that party with my roommate and saw you and Harper?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“That picture was taken at the party I saw you at with Harper. Even though I know now there wasn’t anything truly between the two of you, it devastated me. It didn’t help that I was already at my wits end with my wedding coming up. So I did something to try to forget the pain.”
“Even if I could possibly wrap my mind around your actions, I can’t fucking understand how you could be so stupid to fuck some rando without a condom. Didn’t you even think you could be bringing shit back to Rafe?”
Glaring at him, I replied, “Don’t you dare get judgmental on me. You and I both know your sexual exploits certainly outnumber mine.”
“At least I always wrap up my cock.”
“Yeah, well, so did he.” At Leo’s continued disbelief, I rolled my eyes. “They’re not 100% effective, especially when it comes to user error. We were both drunk. It was dark–”
“Spare me the rest of the details,” he growled.
“Trust me, it’s not something I enjoy reliving.”
With a cruel smile, Leo said, “Why not? It was the night your son was conceived. Isn’t that supposed to be a happy memory for mothers?” When I didn’t answer, he said, “It can be a happy memory for fathers too. I know it was for me when I thought about how we’d made him on our honeymoon.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I never wanted to deceive you.”
“But you did.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“Fuck that.”
“It’s the truth. You’ve met my father. How can you possibly doubt me when he was ready to kill Rafe in church at our wedding? The only way I was allowed to keep the baby was if I pretended it was Rafe’s…and then yours.”
“You should’ve gotten rid of it.”
I gasped in horror. “How can you be so heartless?”
He threw his hands up. “Because I just found out the woman I love has been lying to me since the day we were married. That she let me shed tears of pride and happiness when I saw the fucking ultrasound. That she let me feel the kick of some stranger’s child while pretending it was mine.”
“There have been so many times I’ve wanted to tell you the truth. Even as far back as the rehearsal party.”
“But you were too fucking selfish.”
“I was protecting those I love.” Shaking my head, I countered, “My father wasn’t just threatening the baby. If I didn’t comply and go along with deceiving Rafe and then you, he would’ve killed Vittoria.”
“You could have told me, and I would’ve had him taken out.”
“We both know that wasn’t possible because it would’ve caused a war. It was the reason why Maeve left Rafe. She knew that people would be killed, and I did the same thing to protect people.”
Sneering, Leo said, “You are nothing like her. Maeve would’ve never done something so selfish.”
“She would tell you just like she told me that she was selfish to pursue anything with Rafe because he was an engaged man.”
“What Maeve did is not even in the same league as you.”
“Despite it being wrong, I did what I had to do to protect those I loved, and that included you.”
Leo's jaw clenched and unclenched as he appeared to be processing my words. There was an anguish in his eyes that truly broke my heart. I would’ve given anything not to have hurt him.
Taking a step forward, I placed my hand on his cheek. “Just tell me what to do, Leo. Tell me what to do to make this right. I’ll do anything.”
He knocked my hand away. “It’s too fucking late.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I can’t ever look at you the same way.” His gaze dropped to my abdomen. “And now that I know the truth, I can’t be anywhere near your baby.”
“Please. Just give it some time.”
“After today, I never want to see you again. Our marriage will be annulled based on fraud and misrepresentation. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to remove your things from my apartment.”
“Leo, please,” I sobbed.
At the sudden cruelty in his eyes, I wrapped my arms around my belly. “As for this building, I’ll be selling it.”
“Why?”
“So you can know what it’s like to lose something you really love.”
“I already am. I’m losing you.”
Without another word to me, Leo stormed out of the gallery and out of my life.