CHAPTER 22
Gabrielle
As soon as my meeting with Padma ended, she drove me to the restaurant where Dilvan was waiting for me.
She wanted to stay — I told her to leave.
There was no way her twisted son would do anything to me in public and I wasn’t scared, little Gabrielle anymore.
The three months I spent away from him gave me a backbone.
Knowing how a real man treats a woman gave me my voice.
I’m not surprised that he chose a fancy restaurant – one with dim lighting and candles – the type of place one would have to make reservations in order to get a table.
And he ordered dinner already – not even giving me the opportunity to order what I wanted, which suits me fine because I’m not here to eat.
I don’t break bread with people I don’t like.
Something about that just doesn’t sit right with me. I opted for a glass of wine instead.
“How have you been?” Dilvan asks.
Ignoring him, I swish the wine around in my glass. His voice sickens me. Coming here was a mistake. All the things he did to me are flashing in my head like visions.
“You can look at me, Gabrielle.”
I frown. Oh, now I can look at you, when before, I wasn’t allowed to make eye contact with you.
“Did you hear me?” he asks.
I nod and take a sip of wine.
“Then look at me.”
“No, thanks,” I say.
He sighs heavily. “I asked you here because I wanted to apologize for the way I’ve treated you. You didn’t deserve it, and I’m sorry.”
I roll my eyes. His apology means nothing to me. It can’t change the past. It won’t undo the name-calling, the pushing and shoving, and the way he forced himself on me. I’m sorry are just words, and for a man like Dilvan, there is no meaning behind them.
And there never will be.