Page 133 of Deceptive Vows

At first, I think my eyes must be screwing with me, then I think this must be wrong because it says here that the name of the woman I’m looking at is Natalia Lily de Leon.

Further down, there’s a listing for her for sale in the virgin auction for two million dollars.

My hands tremble, but I’m not sure what this emotion is I’m feeling or if it’s possible that I’m feeling a myriad of them.

I pick out the burning sensation of anger and rage, but both are fueled by hurt. Like someone stabbed me with a knife in my heart and twisted it to make sure I could feel the sting of betrayal.

“What am I looking at, Eric? What the fuck am I really looking at?”

“Your wife isn’t Adriana Alvarez. This woman is.”

He hands me the rest of the document. It’s medical records and the image of a woman who looks more like Raul.

Hername is Adriana Alvarez.

Everything I thought about the woman in my home that never made sense does now.

The scars on her back, the absence of the engagement ring, her behavior, her personality, her pain.

Her.

She never begged for Raul’s life, but she was worried about José’s.

I stole the wrong woman.

Imarriedthe wrong woman.

And the woman I stole lied to me.

37

Natalia

The first thing I see when I open my eyes is a beautiful white rose.

I lift my head and study it. The little note on plain white paper says, “Later.”

I pick up the rose to inhale the scent.

It brings a smile to my face, and I think of the last few nights I spent with Mikhail.

I smile wider when I think of the idea of going to college and pursuing my dreams.

Could I really have it all?

Could this really work out for me?

Could I have the man and the dreams and finally live a life where I’m free?

I allow myself some reprieve to dream and savor the feeling of being in love.

That smile on my face is there for about five minutes, maybe less, before it recedes as I once again think of the lie I am.

I pull my head out of the clouds and climb back down to reality.

How can I have the man and the dream and live my life in freedom when I have this big lie hanging over me?

How can I do that?