25

I spent the whole afternoon with Cookie to spend time with him. I love playing and petting him. This little kitten has become very important in my life in such a short time. It's like we were destined to find each other. I couldn't help but think about Alexander's cold attitude after Margarita's visit. It felt like when we first met. I don't know what's wrong with him. In the evening, I went to the kitchen. I wouldn't have dinner because we have dinner plans with Margarita, so I just gave Cookie his tuna and left him eating peacefully while I went upstairs to get dressed.

Alexander was there with his laptop on his lap, working.

"What are you doing?" he asked me when he saw me looking for dresses.

"We have dinner with Margarita, did you forget?"

"Yeah, I don't feel like going," he admitted, and I gave him a deadly look. I can't believe he's going to snub his friends.

"Alexander, we agreed to go..."

"But I have things to do, sorry."

I nodded, feeling really bad. I don't understand why he's behaving like this.

"Then I'll go alone," I let him know, picking a casual pastel pink dress.

"You're not going anywhere alone," he cut in. "Not after the kidnapping you went through and with Natasha lurking around."

"I don't have any other option."

I heard him sigh.

"Mariela, don't start with your rebelliousness."

"And you, don't start with your bad manners," I retorted, pretending to go into the bathroom because I don't want to see him. I thought that rudeness was in the past. I looked at my wedding ring, a fake wedding where we pretended to be married. I haven't spoken to my parents since the wedding.

"Mariela, please open the door," his tone softened now. "Okay, we'll go to the dinner."

I smiled to myself, but then I composed myself. It shouldn't be like this; I shouldn't be falling in love with this man.

I won't fall for him.

I opened the door to get dressed.

"Get dressed," I told him.

"Just for a while, I have work to do," he admitted, looking for his clothes.

"As you wish."

At least I had managed to get him out.

I put on the dress, along with some sandals of the same color. I let my hair down and curled it a bit. Alexander came out of the bathroom, ready.

"Mariela, you look... beautiful."

"Thank you."

"Shall we go?"

I nodded.

We left the house towards the car, obviously escorted by the bodyguards.

•

Margarita's house is big, like all of Alexander's friends' houses. She welcomed us as we entered.

"I thought you weren't coming," she said. She gave me a hug. Margarita was wearing a black sparkling dress. Augusto was coming down the stairs.

"We almost didn't come, Alexander was undecided."

"I can't believe you were going to stand me up," Augusto says to Alexander.

"You would have understood," Alexander responds, unfazed.

"Let's go to the table. Do you want wine?" Margarita asks us. We followed her to the dining room where it wasn't just us; there were two more girls with two guys, one of them being none other than Lex.

It can't be.

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Gabardini," Lex says, holding his wine glass. I don't know the other people.

"Well, we're not the only ones," Alexander said, showing his displeasure.

"Mariela, you already know Lex. Let me introduce you to Ernesto Lumbett, Sonia Lane, and Pamela Carson."

"Pleased to meet you," I said to the girls and the guy.

"Let's sit down."

Alexander and I took our seats. Dinner was being served, and they all started chatting among themselves. I felt like a fish out of water because I didn't engage in conversation with anyone.

"I told you it wasn't a good idea to come," Alexander whispered to me.

"I didn't think there would be more people."

"I know my friends' dinners, and I know we're not the only guests."

I pursed my lips; I didn't even have much of an appetite.

"Mariela, tell us where you're from," the girl named Sonia asked me.

Great.

"Europe."

"Which part?" she insisted.

"We're not here to dig into Mariela's past, Sonia, stop asking stupid questions," Alexander snapped, taking me by surprise.

"Relax, Alexander, the girls just want to get to know your wife," Lex chimed in.

"And don't talk to my girlfriend like that, Alexander," Ernesto said.

"I'll talk to her however I want," Alexander retorted.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds because I hate it when they argue and I'm caught in the middle. Suddenly, I felt nauseous.

"I'm going to the bathroom," I stood up.

"I'll come with you," Margarita also stood up and took my hand, leading me to the bathroom. "Are you okay? You look pale."

"I just feel a bit nauseous," I fanned myself with my hand. "I don't like it when they argue."

"I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have invited so many people. I just didn't think they would come, knowing Alexander..."

"I had to convince him."

We reached the bathroom, so I splashed some water on my face to freshen up a bit.

"Are you okay? I feel like you're not. Mariela, since when have you been experiencing nausea?"

"Just now. It's because of the stress," I responded to reassure her.

"If Alexander weren't sterile, I would tell you that you might be pregnant," she murmured. I froze at the possibility, but Alexander is sterile, that's impossible.

"Yeah, it's just stress," I admitted, feeling somewhat sad. Why am I sad? If Alexander can't have children, it's not my problem. Or is it? Did I secretly want to have his baby? Maybe deep down, I did.

"Well... maybe you should take a test," she encouraged me.

"No, it's a waste of time."

"I've seen cases, Mariela, where miracles happen, and maybe this could be yours. What if you're really pregnant? If I were you, I'd take the test just to clear any doubts."

I thought about it for a moment. After all, I had nothing to lose by taking the test, but if Alexander found out, he would think it's an insult because I know he can't have children. I don't want to make him feel bad.

"Please don't mention this to anyone," I pleaded. "Not until I'm sure, I don't want Alexander to feel bad."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything."