Page 127 of My Heart's Doctor

“I assure you we do. Grant me those minutes, please. We'll be in a café surrounded by people, nothing will happen, we'll just talk.”

“No, my time is too valuable,” I said, knowing I was being very harsh, but I didn't care.

“I see I'm not worth even a minute of your time,” he said, putting on a dejected expression. “I'm still going to tell you what brought me here,” he stated, taking me by the arm. “I want you to know that I never intended to hurt you, I mean it.”

“If what you're looking for is forgiveness, I guarantee you that everything is forgotten.”

“I'm not asking you to forgive me,” he said, and he really seemed sorry, and for a moment I could glimpse something of the boy I thought I loved, “I know I don't deserve it, I just want you to understand that I know I hurt you but I did it unintentionally. At that time I went through an emotional roller coaster that I didn't know how to handle. Can you understand that?”

“Honestly, I can't understand it because at that time I was going through the same thing as you, with the addition that I was the one who couldn't be a mom, but I don't remember blaming you for my fate or thinking you were cruel for leaving because I could understand you. What I will never understand was your coldness and cruelty.”

“I know, I know,” he said, shaking his head.

“Now that we've cleared that up, I'm leaving,” I stated, trying to resume my path, but he stopped me again.

“Your boyfriend won't make you happy,” he stated, looking at me seriously, and at that moment I could no longer bear his hypocrisy.

“William? You know nothing about him and you have no right to comment on William!” I exclaimed, furious. “I'm not going to listen to anything you have to say because they're just lies to prevent me from being happy. I can't believe you're such a terrible person!”

“Just listen to me and then draw your own conclusions.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I want to look out for you.”

“Is this a joke?” I asked ironically, and in response he shook his head. “You're completely insane. Live your life and leave me alone.”

“Devon, listen to what I have to say, it's important. I wouldn't forgive myself if he played with your feelings.”

“Are you listening to yourself? I can't believe this! I'm leaving,” I said, breaking free from his grip and starting to walk.

I had barely taken two steps when I had him walking beside me again.

“Devon, you need to listen to me, your boyfriend is cheating on you.”

“Whaaaat? Leave me alone, you damn son of a…”

“Devon! He has several mistresses, I even know one of them.”

I was shocked, offended, and furious. I couldn't believe Lino had gone so far to destroy me, because that was surely what he wanted, to prevent me from being happy. I shot him a furious look of reproach.

“Your exit from my life was the best thing that could have happened to me. I recognize you less and less, you're a disgrace of a person and…”

“Listen to me, please. He marks all his mistresses by giving them a gold and diamond necklace. I don't know if he's given it to you yet, but if he hasn't, I assure you he will at any moment. I don't know why the hell he does it, he must be sick, but I assure you it's true. When I investigated his life, they explained to me that the man likes all his women to wear that necklace.”

“You investigated?” I said, with a thread of a voice, unable to believe what I was experiencing.

“I know what I’m about to say isn’t right, but I hired someone to do it. I admit that at first it was out of simple curiosity, but when I began to learn the intimate details of his life, I knew I couldn’t keep that information to myself because you need to know who you’re going to marry. I assure you I’m not doing this to prevent you from being happy, you deserve happiness. I’m not doing it so you’ll come back to me either. I’m sorry to say this, but you know I was the one who wanted to separate,” he stated, as if I were foolish to think he wanted to get back with me.

“You’re an imbecile! Forget about me and leave me alone!”

“I won’t! I wanted a divorce, but I care about you and I won’t allow anyone to hurt you,” he said, taking something from his pocket and holding it in front of my eyes. “This is the necklace he gives to all his mistresses. One of them gave it to me, the woman I know. She lent it to me so I could show you and open your eyes. Do you have one like this?”

“Of course not, it’s all your invention,” I shouted.

“It’s not, Devon. I can take you to the woman who lent me this jewelry,” he said, raising the necklace again for me to look at. “Apparently the first wife found out about his mistresses after they were married, and it’s speculated that because of this she started drinking too much and had an accident.”

I couldn’t take it anymore and slapped him. I wasn’t going to allow him to smear William like that. Lino looked at me with eyes like saucers.