Page 74 of Stronger Than Fate

“The same thing happened at the pub the night I got drunk. He was with another woman and didn’t seem interested in leaving her, but as soon as he saw me with Nacho, he immediately came over to ruin my night, imposing himself and pulling me away from him.”

“I understand he’s your brother and you see him differently, but you have to admit he’s someone who likes to date many women and it’s unlikely he could be with just one. You saw that the day after we separated, he was already going out with others, and I haven’t even been able to go out alone.”

“I’m sorry, Dali. I know I don’t have much defense for him, but I repeat, I’ve never seen him so upset about anything. Maybe you could have one last conversation.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I would talk to you, nothing more. I should clarify that I didn’t tell him this dress isn’t yours. He deserves to suffer a little.”

“I’m not trying to make him suffer, and I don’t think he is suffering. I just don’t want him to make me suffer.”

“That’s understandable. If you don’t want to talk to him, you can leave through that door which leads to the entrance hall and you won’t cross paths, or you can lock yourself in that dressing room with doors and I’ll tell him you left. I don’t think he’ll doubt my word. Decide whatever seems best to you. You have my absolute support in whatever decision you make.”

“Thank you, Niky. I think I’ll take the less brave option, or cowardly, call it what you will. I prefer to run away rather thanface him. My heart and my pride refuse to do it,” I whispered, shaking my head.

“You’re not a coward, you’re just protecting your heart, and that’s not cowardly,” she said, caressing my cheeks. “Do you love him?” she asked.

I raised my face and looked into her eyes, ready to be honest.

“I love him with all my heart, as simple and as complicated as that. Henry is my first love, and I doubt I’ll forget him easily, but I will forget him because I’m convinced that no person is insurmountable and no pain is eternal. For him, I’m just someone to enjoy for a while; he made that clear to me. With him, I have an expiration date, and if I accept that while being in love, it would be like serving my heart on a platter for him to crush.”

“Damn arrogant, stupid bastard!”

“No, Niky, don’t say that. He is who he is, it’s his way of living and what makes him comfortable and secure. The fact that we think differently doesn’t make us better. But since he won’t change and neither will I, there’s no point in continuing to dwell on our relationship. Don’t take this the wrong way, but your brother is the typical man a girl like me should stay away from. That’s why it’s over.”

At that moment, some knocks on the door startled us. His voice was heard from the other side.

“What’s taking so long? Dalina, if you don’t come out in five minutes, I’m coming in to get you.”

Niky looked at me seriously.

“I think you’ll have to take the dressing room option because it’s impossible for me to get you out of the dress and into yourclothes in five minutes. Come with me,” she said, took my hand and dragged me to the dressing room. “Take your purse and your clothes and turn off your phone, just in case it rings and gives us away,” she added, while placing my things on the chair.

The dressing room was spacious and comfortable with a couple of armchairs. Niky helped me in, but I didn’t want to sit down to avoid wrinkling the dress.

“I’m going to sit calmly at my desk and wait for my caveman brother to break down the front door. You stay calm and lock this one,” she said, before closing the dressing room door.

I really felt bad doing all this. On one hand, I didn’t like that Niky had to lie for me, and on the other, I also felt like a liar and a traitor, but I couldn’t face him. My heart, my mind, and my body always surrendered when they were near him, and I didn’t want to go through that anymore. While my head was racing with thoughts about what had happened that day, I heard his voice again.

“Dalina, come out now.”

“You can come in,” said Niky.

I heard the noise of the door opening and his footsteps as he entered. Being locked up in the dark seemed to have sharpened my senses, and I could hear even their breathing.

“Where is she?” he asked, with a serious and authoritative voice.

“She left,” Niky responded, with absolute calm.

“What? What do you mean she left?” he asked, raising his voice.

“She left through that door. Stop shouting and sit down because you won’t catch up with her. She already got into her carand is heading to her hotel… or maybe she’s going somewhere else, I didn’t ask.”

“I can’t believe you did this to me. I’m your brother! Why did you betray me?”

“Because Dalina is my friend and I don’t want you to keep bothering her. Can’t you see she wants you to leave her alone?”

“Don’t get involved in this, Niky.”