Chapter 24

Amanda raised a confused brow.

"Pardon?"

"You weren't at the wedding, but you walked down the aisle to me. Can you elaborate, Amanda?" he asked sarcastically.

She froze. He knows? So soon? She had to pull herself together, even if he knows, it wouldn't change anything, they couldn't be together.

"I'm sorry for deceiving you, I just had to fill in for my sister to avoid having the wedding called off and also to get back the resort. Now that she's back, I hope you forget about me and focus on your wife please"

Xavier's jaw dropped, hurt piercing into his chest at how smoothly those words fell out from her mouth.

"You're talking as if it's so easy, I love you not her and you know that very well."

"We only have the same face. She's sophisticated; she won't talk you into dates and your father won't berate you because of her, she's..."

"Amanda," he cut in, angrily.

Tears threatened, but she fought them back. She had always wanted him to call her name, but hearing it now was breaking her apart inside.

"Stop talking like this. Didn't you even wonder how I found out so quickly? I was deceived before because I didn't know your sister that well, but I got to know everything about you, and do you think I could get fooled again?"

"I already apologized for that, and it's okay if I'm not forgiven, so please leave, Xavier."

He stared at her wondering if he was the one wrong here.

"Your words hurt; you know. I was the one who got fooled and I'm still the one receiving this harsh treatment from you, what did I do wrong?" he asked.

"You're married and I don't want to have anything to do with you ever again."

"I'm married to you," he slammed back.

"Why can't you just understand that I don't want to be with you and leave?" she yelled and walked past him, but he quickly turned around, grabbing her arm, he hurled her into his arms.

"I'll forgive you for everything, I can't even get mad at you or hold a grudge against you even if I want to, I know you love me, just say you want to be with me, please," he begged, frantically.

Her fists were crushed into his hard chest trying to push him backwards, but he held onto her tightly.

"Let me go, Xavier, I don't want to be with you anymore"

"I said I forgive you, what more do you want me to do? I don't want to live with your sister, she's not you, she can never be you. I love you so much, Amanda, just..."

She broke down into tears. "Why are you making this so hard for me? Do you think it's easy trying to push you away?"

He disengaged from her cuddling her in his arms.

"You don't have to, cara. I know you still love..."

"Love isn’t enough and I don't want this love," she replied and moved away from him while he let his arms dropped.

She didn't want to hurt him, but she had to.

"Falling in love with you was a big mistake and I regret it."

Xavier just stared at her, speechlessly, and he thought Selena had hurt him, he was already seeing his future without this woman, she would crush him and right now, she had started doing just that.

He continued staring at her as she walked away, he wanted to believe she didn't mean those words, maybe she was scared of what people might think if he leaves Alisha for her.

What should he do?

Amanda walked into her apartment and dumped the grocery bags on the floor, she wiped the tears from her cheeks, she was okay, she shouldn't cry anymore, she did the right thing.

Tears stung her eyes, but she tried hard not to blink and hurriedly started preparing something, food might make her forget about her pain.

After some minutes, she brought down noodles and sat on the stool in her kitchen, she started eating hurriedly, forcing the food down her throat.

"Sei il mio pensiero preferito"(You're my favorite thought)

"Ardo di amore per te"(I burn with love for you).

"Tu sei un dono del ceilo"(You're a gift from heaven)

"I love you."

"I'll forgive you for everything. I can't even get mad at you or hold a grudge against you even if I want to, just say you want to be with me too, please"

As memories lingered through her head, she wept as she ate.

His desolate face when she had said those last words to him reeled through her mind.

"I'm sorry, Xavier. I'm so sorry," she muttered, crying bitterly.

Xavier sat opposite Cesario on a couch.

He had gone to the villa and told his father everything hoping his father would get mad and might not want Alisha as his daughter in-law.

But to his greatest surprise, his father looked unperturbed.

"I always knew there was something wrong with that woman and I bet the real girl would live up to my expectations"

"What? Doesn't it matter to you that I was deceived?"

"Well, I'd have to meet up with Isobel and she would get a tongue-lashing from me but look at the bright side, if she hadn't looked for a solution, our family would've faced a huge embarrassment and since your real wife has returned, continue your life with her"

"But I don't love her..."

"I warned you not to give your heart to a woman Xavier, but you didn't listen. Do you really think you would leave your wife for her sister? Over my dead body! Just imagine how the public would think of the Da Silva's family, this is a great name that I have maintained for years and you will not ruin it. It doesn't matter who you love Xavier, you're married to Alisha and you shouldn't dare do anything to separate the two of you," Cesario warned, sternly.