Chapter 111
D A N T E
I closed the door to the guest room behind me as I walked into the room, my heart pounding with rage.
Melissa was trying to mess with me and ruin the happiness I finally thought I had.
“what are you doing?” I asked my voice low and tight. “We had an agreement, I gave you the money just as much as you asked and I even added some on top. Why can’t you just take it and leave us alone? I want to be happy. I finally have my family back and you want to ruin that for me? Come on p>
She grined a satisfying one “An agreement?” she scoffs. “You think money fixes everything, Dante? You think you can just pay me off and I will disappear? I love money Dante and you know that but I love you even more. I didn’t realize that until after I left you. I made a mistake, it was the biggest mistake of my life and now I’m back to fix things p>
My patience was running very thin, I was trying so hard to keep it down so Ariana doesn’t wake up or the kids. “It is too late for that Melissa! Too late! That was a lifetime ago. I love Ariana. She is my wife and is the mother of my children. My life is with her. You already made your choice, don’t come back to ruin what I tried so hard to build”
“Your life?” she laughed but it was not a happy sound. “The life you built with the woman who ran away from you? The woman who lied to you about your own children? You think that is real? For all you know, they might not even be your children p>
“Do not talk about her like that!” I snapped, stepping closer. “You know nothing about her or about us, so don’t you run that stupid mouth of yours”
“I know that I am here now,” she said her voice dropping to a whisper. “And I am not going anywhere If you do not come back to me Dante I will tell her everything. I will tell Ariana the truth that I’m not your college friend as you claimed that I am. I’m going to tell her that you’re mine, you’ve always been mine… she merely just a replacement”
My blood ran cold. “You would not dare p>
“Try me,” she said, her eyes flashing. “I have nothing left to lose. I want you back and I will get you back no matter what I have to do. Dante and you know I stop at nothing to get what I want p>
I felt sick staring at her.
It felt like a nightmare knowing I had to protect Ariana from this. I could not let Melissa destroy everything.
But I need to tell Ariana the truth before she finds about from someone.
“You need to leave,” I said my voice shaking with rage. “You can’t stay here… I made a terrible mistake for allowing you to stay in the first place. I will buy you a new house and add more money to what I gave you if you just please walk out of our lives p>
“No,” she said simply. “I am not leaving Leo and I are staying right here In your home with you, where we belong p>
I hissed in frustration heading to the door “You will leave and that’s final Melissa” i yanked the door open needing to get out of there before I said or did something I would regret.
I stormed out into the hallway, stopping dead my hert dropped to my feet.
Ariana was standing there just a few steps outside the door with he eyes were wide.
Did she hear?
How much had she heard?
“Ariana,” I breathed, her name felt like ash in my mouth.
She looked from me to the closed door of Melissa’s room. “Dante… I… I heard noises. It sounded like an argument. What… what are you doing in Melissa’s room? Is everything okay p>
My mind raced.
I could not tell her the truth, I could not tell her that the woman in that room was my ex-wife.
So I did the only thing I could think of.
I lied.
Again.
How many more lies do I have to tell?
I ran a hand over my face trying to look tired and worried. “It is… it is her husband”
I walked closer to her, putting my hands on her shoulders. “He was threatening her on the phone and she was scared. She called me in because she was panicking. I was just… trying to calm her down p>
I looked into her beautiful trusting eyes and I hated myself. I hated every word coming out of my mouth.
“She was just crying and upset,” I continued, the lies flowing too easily. “She is afraid he will find her and take Leo away… and I was just giving her assurance”
Ariana’s face softened with sympathy. “Oh the poor woman, that’s terrible. No wonder she seemed so on edge earlier today p>
She believed me, of course she believed me.
She trusted me.
And I was lying straight to her face.
I felt like the biggest piece of garbage in the world.
“I am sorry you had to hear that,” I said, pulling her into a hug, holding her tight, wishing I could absorb the truth and keep her safe from it forever.
“It’s okay,” she mumbled into my chest. “It’s good you’re helping her… you’re a good man Dante”
I closed my eyes holding my wife, the love of my life, while my ex-wife and my lies were just a few feet away threatening to tear it all apart.