Chapter 21: Restless Heart

ALMA

I glanced at Luis, watching him carefully as I waited for some kind of reaction. Silence stretched between us. His gaze turned to Sebastian, and then, unexpectedly, he started to laugh.

The sound caught me off guard.

It wasn’t nervous laughter. He was somewhat amused.

Wait, is Luis losing his mind?

I frowned slightly and glanced at Sebastian instead.

But Sebastian remained calm, his expression composed and unreadable.

A strange unease settled in my chest.

I didn’t understand what was happening, and that scared me more.

“When did your taste of women change?” he asked, glancing at Sebastian.

I frowned, irritation and confusion rising at the same time.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Luis looked at me again, and a slow grin spread across his face. His laughter grew louder, and now even his eyes were glistening with tears.

“Alma, you’re beautiful,” he said softly. “But you’re not Sebastian’s type.”

My fingers curled slightly at my sides at his words.

“He doesn’t go for calm women,” he continued, still amused. “He prefers them… wild.”

He laughed again, as though he had cracked the most hilarious joke.

I stared at Sebastian as tears threatened to spill. His gaze met mine, steady and unreadable, and my fists tightened at my sides. So this was it. He liked wild women, hmm.

I scoffed under my breath, a heat I couldn’t name rising through me.

“Luis, this is your wife, not… some other woman. Show her respect,” Sebastian said, his voice calm and unwavering, still holding my gaze.

I couldn’t stop the tears anymore. They slipped down my cheeks, and I quickly brushed at them, trying to keep my face composed.

Luis swallowed hard, his confidence slipping. He reached for my hands. Instantly, I moved them behind my back, refusing the gesture.

“Sorry, Alma… I’m just being honest,” he muttered, like the scumbag he is.

I rolled my eyes, grabbed my bag from the floor, and walked toward the stairs without looking back.

“I’m sorry, Alma,” Luis called after me, laughter still clinging to his voice.

I hated him more than anything.

But what hurt more was myself. I had finally stopped caring for someone who didn’t deserve me—only to give my heart to someone even more impossible.

I entered the bedroom and shut the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment before sliding down to the floor.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Of course I wasn’t his type. If I were he, I wouldn't have stayed still an entire week without checking on me.

I pressed my palm against my mouth as more tears came out unstoppably.

My shoulders were shaking as the ache in my chest deepened.

Would I ever get over this?

SEBASTIAN

If I acted on what I truly felt right now, I would punch him so damn hard he’d forget how to laugh.

How could he fucking belittle her like that?

She was hurting. I saw it in her eyes, the way they welled with tears, and in her trembling voice. And he stood there laughing—as if her pain were some personal joke meant for his amusement.

My jaw tightened. As his laughter became louder.

Damn it.

He doesn't fucking deserve her at all.

I stare at the door she just entered. The urge to go after her and coax her settles deep down on me. For the past week, I’ve called and texted her, but she seems to have blocked me. I can’t believe how trapped I’ve become in my own game. I now have the evidence for my revenge; it was damn enough reason to cut her off or feel satisfied that she’s finally leaving me for good—but instead, I want to hold her even more closely.

Luis told me he wants to return this week and catch her red-handed. Today, he even begged me to pick him up from the airport. I definitely have every fucking right to refuse, but because I want to see her without making it seem like I’m desperate, I decide to drive him home.

“Don’t be an asshole,” I say calmly, even though his behavior irritates me.

He turns to me, holding back his laughter. “I know your type of woman—strong and wild. Alma isn’t anything like that. She’s just like a doll.” He leans closer, wrapping an arm around my neck, and heat rises in my chest, a mix of anger and disbelief.

“Men, I still need to find that guy. I’m going to kill him,” he mutters, his eyes darkening.

“If you care about your wife enough to cut your trip short, why treat her like this?” I ask, my voice sharper now.

He hesitates, his brow furrowing, as if weighing my words. “I care about Alma, and I won’t let any man get close to her. But that doesn’t mean I’ll pamper her.” I raise a brow, searching his expression, trying to understand how he thinks that counts as affection.

He sighs. “Look, naive women like Alma… if you treat them special, they become stubborn.” His lips brush close to my ear as he lowers his voice. “The best way to control them is emotional blackmail.”

My jaw tightens.

Damn Fool She won’t become stubborn; she’ll depend on him. She’ll feel guilty for even thinking of cheating on him.

“What if she ends up hating you for this? ” I ask.

He scoffed, “Alma? She loves me like a fool. She craves my attention.” His eyes gleam with confidence. “All I need to do is mention her weakness. A few words—and she’s under my control again.”

My brows draw together.

Weakness?

What weakness does the Flores family have over her?

A slow unease creeps up my spine. Did I move too quickly? Did I play my piece without seeing his next move?

Or… is there someone else? Someone more important to him than his wife?

My gaze locks with his.

As the question settles heavily in my chest.

Luis… Are you more complicated than I thought?