Page 132 of My Heart's Doctor

As soon as we got home, William dragged me to the bedroom, closed the door and stood in front of me, looking at me with intense desire. With one hand he held my face and then slid his thumb across my cheek.

“I love you, my sweet doctor.”

“Not as much as I love you.”

“Well, I don’t think it’s possible to love more than I love you,” he affirmed, and leaning in, he pressed his lips to mine and claimed them as his own.

We both let out a sigh and the kiss intensified. We explored each other’s mouths with desperation and overwhelming need. Our arms tightened around each other to feel closer. A guttural moan vibrated in his chest and made mine tremble. William slid his hands down my back until he reached my buttocks and pulled me closer to him. Slowly he moved a few inches away from me and rested his forehead against mine.

“I want to give you a gift. I was going to give it to you on Christmas, but I have something else planned for that day. Now I’d like you to wear it and have nothing else on, just your skin and what I’m going to give you.”

He moved away and went to his nightstand, opened one of the drawers and took out a package. When he handed me the small bag with the brand of a fine and elegant jewelry store, my heart stopped, but not for the reasons William was surely thinking.

“Open it,” he said, enthusiastically.

At that moment what I felt was terrible fear. I remembered what Lino had told me and began to pray that it wasn’t what he had shown me. I took out the package and tore open the elegant paper. William looked at me smiling, probably thinking that myspeed in unwrapping was due to my eagerness to see the gift, but while that was true, it wasn’t exactly for the gift itself, but rather to know once and for all if inside there was a…

“I hope you like this necklace, let me put it on you.”

My heart stopped beating, or perhaps it was beating so fast that I had to stop feeling it to avoid noticing the pain it was causing me. I remained motionless, watching as William took the necklace out of the case and extended it in his hand for me to better appreciate it. I examined the necklace. It was so beautiful that I almost lost my breath, but mostly because it was identical to the one Lino had shown me, I had no doubts. My eyes welled up and I shook my head, trying to swallow the lump that was tightening my throat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned. “Don’t you like it? If that’s the case, we can exchange it,” he said, speaking hastily.

“Why did you buy me this necklace?” I asked, with a thin voice.

“Because I thought you would like it, I never expected this reaction,” he said, putting it back in the bag and leaving it on the nightstand.

I just watched him, but I couldn’t move. When he came back to my side, he took my face in his hands.

“‘Sweet,’ what’s happening? Why did you get like this? I don’t understand anything.”

“Why did you buy me that necklace?” I insisted.

“I don’t know, I liked it and thought you would like it too. Now tell me once and for all what’s going on.”

I moved away and sat on the bed. I put my hands to my temples. There was no point in keeping what Lino had told meto myself. I had thought not to say anything because I was sure they were all absurdities, but how could Lino know about the necklace? I took a deep breath.

“Do you buy that necklace for all your lovers?”

“What? Why are you asking me that?” he asked, his face distorted.

“Just answer me, but tell me the truth.”

“Of course not. How could you even think such nonsense?!” he asked, unable to temper the indignation in his voice.

I had to tell him the truth.

“Today Lino came by the medical clinic and...”

“Your ex-husband? You were with him?” he asked, rage reflected in his voice as he ran a hand through his hair.

“He showed up when I left the clinic to talk to me about you,” I said, while his face reflected increasing fury. “I didn’t believe anything he told me, but this gift makes me doubt.”

“Doubt me? I don’t know what he might have told you, but it’s clear that I don’t like that this son of a bitch’s word still holds value for you.”

“It doesn’t, William, I assure you. But he followed me as I kept walking and I couldn’t help hearing what he was saying. He told me you had many mistresses, that you gave all of them a necklace like that one,” I said, pointing to the little bag on the nightstand, “and he showed it to me. He said it belonged to one of your mistresses who was an acquaintance of his. He also said that I was just like all the others and that you only proposed to me because I was the only one who could get along with Aurora.”

“I’ll kill him! I swear that guy is going to regret ever crossing my path.”