Page 69 of Stronger Than Fate

“I had to bring you because you were completely drunk and making an embarrassing spectacle of yourself at the pub,” he stated, standing up but keeping his distance from me.

“What?”

“You heard me. If you don’t know how to drink, you shouldn’t do it. You should be aware of your capacity for alcohol consumption. With that drunkenness, you put yourself in danger and...”

“Wait!” I said, raising my hand to stop his unsolicited advice. “I didn’t ask you to help me, and much less did I ask for advice on what to do with my life. Don’t start again with your speech about my age and immaturity and blah, blah, blah, because I’ve had enough of that.”

“You should be grateful that I got you out of there before that guy took advantage of you,” he said arrogantly.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” I said, shaking my head, though the movements caused a sharp pain that I had to hide. “Why do you think you have the right to bring me to your house? I was with my friends, including your sister, and I know they would have helped me. I didn’t need anything from you, I don’t need anything now, and I will never need anything from you.”

“That guy didn’t seem to want to help you; he just wanted to get his hands on you,” he stated calmly.

“And what’s wrong with that? Are you saying it’s better if you do it?” I asked, and his eyes narrowed, looking at me with deadly anger.

“I didn’t put my hands on you. I just laid you on the bed and took off your clothes so you would be more comfortable, and I didn’t see anything I hadn’t seen before,” he clarified, and the fact that nothing had happened between us reassured me, but he seemed to be getting angrier by the minute.

“And by what right do you decide what’s best for me? I wanted that guy, whose name is Nacho and with whom I was having agreat time, to have put his hands all over me if he wanted,” I stated, not believing what I had just said because I wasn’t the type to say such things.

Henry approached in two strides until he was standing in front of me, looking at me with indescribable fury, but I raised my head and challenged him.

“You were planning to sleep with that guy?”

“I wasn’t just planning to, I still plan to get him into my bed.”

“You’re not the kind of woman who sleeps with just anyone. If it weren’t for me, you’d still be a virgin!” he exclaimed, his face distorted with anger.

“Are you trying to tell me that by sleeping with me you did me a favor? As if being a virgin was some disease that you cured? You’re an idiot!”

His words made my fury reach potentially dangerous levels. I couldn’t think, I could only feel rage and disappointment. I felt unable to contain the anger that coursed through my entire body like fire burning inside me. To avoid doing something I might regret, I clenched my fists so tightly I could almost hear my joints cracking and restrained the impulse to slap him or worse, deliver a good knee to his groin. I took a deep breath and stormed past him. I headed to an armchair in the room where my dress was placed.

“I didn’t say that,” he stated, running his hand through his hair as if he were going mad.

“I’m leaving. I don’t want to see you or hear from you ever again. Get out of the room right now because I need to get dressed.”

“I’m not leaving until we talk.”

“You’ve already said too much. I have nothing more to say to you, absolutely nothing!” I declared, making a great effort to hold back my tears.

“Of course we need to talk.”

Seeing that he was still there with no intention of moving, I grabbed my dress and headed to the bathroom, but as I passed by him, he grabbed my arm.

“Dalina, we need to talk, don’t behave like...” and he stopped before saying what I already knew he would say: “a spoiled child,” which was evidently how he saw me.

“Go on, finish the sentence, say what you always say to me,” I challenged him, but he just stared at me without saying anything. “Let me go!” I exclaimed, struggling to free my arm.

“If you want me to let you go, sit down and let’s talk calmly.”

“There’s nothing more to talk about. This stubborn and disobedient child who tests your patience and isn’t up to your standards or those of your lovers is leaving,” I said sarcastically.

“Stop with that and let’s talk,” he said, releasing me, but still looking at me seriously.

“No, Henry,” I said, a little calmer, as there was no point in continuing to confront each other this way. “I have nothing more to say, and I think you’ve made it clear what you think of me and our relationship. Moreover, last night you were with a woman, presumably one old enough for you to have a better time with than with me.”

“I can’t forget your words. You were hurtful, unfair, and very cynical. I also can’t forget that I saw you with another woman just days after being with me, and you weren’t only with her that night. Your sister also saw you on previous days with that woman or perhaps another one. Who knows how many you’ve been with.”

“I can only acknowledge that we were wrong and that we are very different. Not better or worse, just different. It’s clear that I’m not good for you, and you’re not good for me either.”