Chapter 156

Chapter 156
Bernice rolled in her bed throughout the night, the encounter with Rafael replayed in her head. Then she thought of Alexander, she couldn't hurt him. 

She got up from her bed and walked directly to Rafael's office 

"Rafael, we need to talk."

Bernice's voice sliced through the quiet in Rafael's office like a knife. She stood at his door, her frame stiff, her eyes a storm of feelings that she could no longer bottle up.

Rafael looked up from his desk, his dark eyes gentling the second they fell upon her. "Bernice," he said low and carefully. "Come in."

She hesitated a moment, then stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. The click of the lock resounded with an echo that spoke volumes about the tension building between them.

"I have made a decision," Bernice began, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. "I have accepted your apology, and I'll let you be part of our children's lives. I won't fight you in custody."

A look of relief crossed Rafael's face as he stood up, and walked toward her, a genuine smile now spreading across his lips. "Thank you, Bernice. That means more to me than you know." Opening his arms, he approached her as if to hug her.

But she stepped backward, raising a hand to stop him. "Don't," she said firmly. "This isn't what you think. I'm not doing this because I want us to be together.”

Rafael froze, his arms falling slowly to his sides. His smile fell, replaced by a guarded expression. "What do you mean?”

"I mean that once we find Luca and Mia, is well again, I'm going back to Florence to meet Alexander," Bernice said, her voice shaking slightly. "We'll figure out how to co-parent the kids, but there's nothing left between us. We're already divorced, Rafael. It's over."

His eyes darkened and his jaw tightened. "You love Alexander?"

"Yes," Bernice replied, though her voice shook. "I do."

A thick silence enveloped them. Rafael did not break his gaze from hers, searching for something therein, doubt, hesitation, a chink in her armor.

"I see," he finally said, his voice steady and even, the timbre carrying a dangerous undernote to it. He turned to his desk and pulled out a drawer. "If that's how you feel, there's something you should see."

Bernice frowned. "What do you mean?"

Rafael pulled out a file and extended it towards her. She looked at it, puzzled, and finally took it from his outstretched hands.

"Open it," he urged.

She did, after some hesitation, her fingers trembling as she flipped open the file. Inside were their divorce papers-the ones they had signed years ago.

"But. these were supposed to be filed," Bernice stammered, her eyes darting between the papers and Rafael. "Why do you have them?"

Rafael's gaze was steady, his voice low and deliberate. "Because I never filed them."

Bernice's breath caught. "You. what?"

"We're still legally married," he said, his face inches from hers. "I kept the papers. I couldn't go through with it."

"You had no right—"

"I had every right," Rafael cut her off, now sharp. "I couldn't let go of you, Bernice. I knew deep down that what we had wasn't over. And it's not over."

She took a stumbling step backward, her heart racing in her chest. "You can't decide that for me. I've moved on!”

Rafael closed in, his eyes ablaze. "You think you've moved on? Then why are you still here? Why do your eyes say something else?”

Bernice's back hit the wall as Rafael was now inches away from her, overwhelming. "I'm here for the children, Rafael," she whispered, though even to her ears, it sounded like a lie.

He leaned into her, the warmth of his breath hitting her skin. "You're here because you still feel something," he murmured. "And I'll prove it.”

And before she could utter a word, he slammed his mouth on hers. The kiss was violent, and hungry, and robbed her of air. She set her hands against his chest, to push him off, but the will failed her the instant his arms came around her, drawing her close.

"Stop," she breathed, the word weak against the treason of her body leaning into him.

Rafael drew back a fraction, his forehead against hers. "You're mine, Bernice," he growled. "You always have been, and you always will be. I'll make you see that."

"No." she began to protest, but her voice caught.

He slanted his lips across hers once more, this time more slow, more deliberate. His hands slipped to her waist, sliding up her back, firing a flame she hadn't felt in years.

"I'll make you forget Alexander," Rafael whispered against her lips. "I'll remind you of what we had. What we still have."

Bernice whimpered as he started unbuttoning her blouse, the tips of his fingers grazing her skin. She knew she should stop him, but with every touch, with every kiss, her willpower weakened. Memories buried deep in her mind flooded into her consciousness.

"Rafael," she panted as he lifted her, carrying her toward the adjoining room.

He laid her gently on the bed, his eyes locked to hers. "You've missed this," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Just as much as I have."

Tears welled in her eyes as she fought her emotions. "This isn't right. We shouldn't.”

Rafael silenced her with another kiss, his hands searching everywhere on her. "This is exactly where you belong," he whispered, "With me."

Bernice's fight melted away. She held tight to him, caught in a passion, the connection there between them undeniable. The memory of Alexander, and all the complications their situation had brought into view, vanished. There was only Rafael.

Their bodies moved together in rhythm, every touch, every caress feeding the fire they thought was long buried. Bernice moaned loudly as Rafael went into her and began thrusting deeper and hungrily like a man who has been starved of pleasure for a long time, her nails sank into Rafael's back when she completely let go, the pleasure overwhelming her, she had missed him, missed this.

The sound of their bodies hitting each other and the sound of their moans filled the whole room as they both reached their climax and collapsed on the bed beside each other, breathing heavily. 

Rafael pulled Bernice close to him and she rested her head on his chest. She was so exhausted and after some minutes she drifted to sleep. 

"I love you," Rafael whispered into her ear, his voice raw from emotion. "I have always loved you, and I always will.

Her heart was sore as she could no longer blind herself from the fact. She mumbled, unconsciously very softly while her head lay against his chest, "I love you, too. Rafael."

Rafael smiled and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, stroking her hair with a surge of hope in his heart.

"I promise to love you with my life and I'll never hurt you again.”