Page 99

"I get that you feel guilty, I really do. But if you know my sister like I do—-"

"What are you going to tell me this time, Ysabel?" Massimo bit out. "Will you try to stop me from helping your sister by telling me about her affair?"

Ysabel could only stare at him, stunned. Heknewof Ynez's affair...and he was still willing to help her sister?

"You told me you changed, dammit." And he had fucking believed her.

But just like how his mother had always lied about wanting to change—-

So had Ysabel.

Just like his mother, Ysabel would always be the selfish little bitch who had used her sister's identity to fool around with a married man. Just like his mother, she was bound to disappoint him again and again—-and it was time he fucking accepted that.

Ysabel couldn't even say a word as she watched him walk away.

I was wrong.

He was rushing to Ynez's rescue despite knowing about her sister cheating on him, and that could only mean one thing, couldn't it?

Massimo was in love with Ynez...and not her.

Fourteen

WHAT THE HELL AM Idoing here?

All eyes were on Massimo as he stood outside Ynez's penthouse apartment, his fingers frozen mid-air. On the other side of this door was his ex-girlfriend, who had publicly begged for him to talk to her. Unspoken but very much obvious to everyone was the possibility that Ynez would harm herself if she did not come...but was that truly reason enough for him to walk out of the rehearsal dinner for his own wedding?

Are you really going to do this, Marchetti?

Ynez might need him still, but Ysabel was the woman he had sworn to marry. More than that, hewantedto marry her—-but would she still want to marry him, when every time her sister asked for his help, he would feel conscience-bound to offer it—-even if doing so was hurting hisfidanzata?

Ysabel was not perfect. But neither was he. And once he allowed himself to imagine what life would be without Ysabel—-

No!

Massimo's blood ran cold, and he knew right away it was not a risk he was willing to take. His heart had already made its choice, and its choice, for better or for worse, was not the one who was the opposite of his mother. His heart chose Ysabel, and he would do anything to make her forgive him and take her back.

Having made up his mind, Massimo started to turn away, but it was then he heard the door open behind him, and Ynez cry his name out.

"Massimo, wait!"

Her arms locked around his waist from behind, and before he knew it—-photographers suddenly came out from nowhere, and Massimo realized it was as Ysabel had tried to warn him.

A trap.

This was all a fucking trap, and it was all he could do to control himself from shoving Ynez away.

The fury in Massimo's eyes had Ynez nervously backing up a step even as she looked at him with tear-stained eyes. "Please don't be mad at me—-"

"You planned this, damn you."

"I just wanted you to be free of her," Ynez whispered. "But I knew you were too honorable—-"

"It's over between us, Ynez. And that will never change."

The finality of his voice was just too much, and even though Ynez knew the sensible thing to do was to regroup and find another chance to cause trouble—-

Her temper got the better of her like it always did, and she found herself lunging forward to slap Massimo in the face.