Chapter 44 XLIV.
Alessandra stared from me to Sandro for a minute, looking as if she couldn't quite understand what was happening. I knew we must look suspicious to her right now; after all, we were just coming out of a room together. Maybe she suspected something. This was not at all how I wanted her to find things out.
"Brother, Rowan, what were you two doing in there?" she asked, genuinely curious.
I gulped and looked at Alessandro. His eyes were the only thing that gave away his panic, even though he looked completely confident and nonchalant as always. I replied quickly, "Business! We were just talking about business."
That only seemed to make her more suspicious. "There's nothing private about business in this house. Why did you guys need to talk about it in a hidden room?"
By now, I was already starting to sweat profusely. How the hell was I going to explain the nature of the "business" we were supposedly talking about? Luckily for me, Sandro came to my rescue.
"It's something private and important, Sandra. I needed Rowan's help with something important that's why I asked we talk in private."
She didn't seem to buy it at first, but eventually, she sighed and let it go. "Whatever," she said, waving a dismissive hand before focusing her attention on me. "You arrived here early, but you didn't care to inform me that you're here. I did tell you that we had something to talk about."
I gulped and pushed down my anxiety. "I’m sorry, Sandra. I was about to come see you before bumping into Alessandro."
She squinted at us again. Alessandro cleared his throat. "I guess I’ll give you two some space to talk." He smiled toward me. "I’ll see you around, Rowan."
With that, he left me standing under Sandra's intense gaze. This was my chance to tell her everything, but I felt I had to hear what she had to say first. There was silence between us for a second before I mustered up the courage to speak.
"What do you want to talk about, Sandra?"
I expected her to start yelling and throwing accusations at me, but instead, she walked toward me and took my hands in hers. What scared me most wasn't her touch, but the apologetic look in her eyes. What the hell does she want to talk about?
With her eyes on mine, she began, "Rowan, I’m so sorry about what happened at the engagement party and also at the mall the other day. I have been looking for an opportunity to apologize, but I never really got the chance. I’m so sorry, Rowan; it was completely wrong of me to snap at you in such a disrespectful way."
Guilt stabbed me in the chest at her words. She wanted to apologize for how she spoke to me? Knowing that what she suspected was actually true made her apology make me feel even worse. I felt disgusted with myself.
This charade had to stop. The lies, the betrayal, the pretense—it all had to end. I had to tell Sandra the truth, and I was going to do it right here, right now. I let go of her hand and took both of hers in mine instead. It was now or never.
"Listen, Sandra, you're not the one who should be apologizing. I should be the one apologizing to you."
I heaved a shaky sigh and watched as her expression contorted into confusion. "What do you mean, Rowan?" she asked, her voice gaining a sharp edge, as if she feared what my answer would be.
I gulped and summoned every bit of courage in my bones to tell her the truth, but Anna took that exact moment to intercept us.
"Miss Sandra, Mr. Ricci would like to see you in his study. He says he has something important to talk about." She paused for a bit and looked between Sandra and me with raised brows. "But if you're busy, I can tell him you're—"
"It's fine, Anna," Sandra interrupted, pulling her hands away from my hold. I noticed how she avoided looking at me. "We’ll talk later, Rowan."
She walked away before I got the chance to explain myself. I couldn’t believe I had missed this opportunity to tell Alessandra the truth, but I figured I would have to find some other time.
I sighed and stared at Anna, who was still standing there watching me with an expression I couldn't quite name. I cleared my throat and forced a smile. "Anna, I’ll have to go home now."
I made to walk past her, but the words she said next stopped me in my tracks.
"I know what you have been up to, Rowan."
For some reason, my heart jumped into my throat. Maybe it was her knowing tone or the smirk on her face, but her words made me incredibly uneasy.
"W-what do you mean?" I asked in a shaky tone.
She took a step closer, still smirking as if she had won a battle. "I know what you have been doing with Mr. Alessandro behind Miss Alessandra's back. For someone who always claimed to be perfect, innocent, and a gentleman, you’re very talented at being a liar and a pretender."
I gulped hard as I realized exactly what she was talking about. "You... you know about Sandro and me?"
She rolled her eyes. "I’ve always known that Mr. Alessandro was gay, but I never imagined that you, of all people, would fall for his tricks. I saw you at the engagement party, kissing him." She shook her head in disgust. "You were supposed to be engaged to Miss Alessandra, but you were kissing her brother at the same party. How sick can you be, Rowan?"
Guilt threatened to overcome me, but I tried my best to remain calm. "Listen, Anna. I didn’t plan for things to turn out the way they did. I know I fucked up, but I plan on making things right. I plan to tell Sandra the truth, so please don’t say anything to her."
She chuckled dryly, but I could tell she didn’t find me or this situation funny at all. "You sure have the guts to tell me that. You’re still acting like you care about her feelings when you clearly don’t."
My chest felt heavy. "I do care, Anna."
"No!" she snapped. "If you really cared, you wouldn't be having sex with her brother behind her back while pretending to be in love with her. That doesn't seem like the action of someone who cares."
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. "Listen, Anna. I’m really going to tell Sandra the truth because I care about her."
"And what about me?" she snapped again. Her expression morphed into sadness. I frowned in confusion as she continued. "I’ve liked you for a very long time, Rowan. I did everything for you to see me, to love me, but not once did you pay any attention to me. But the minute Alessandra comes around, you're all over her like the gold digger that you are."
I found it difficult to process what Anna had just told me. She liked me? What the hell?
"You know why I agreed to marry Alessandra, Anna. Mr. Ricci asked me to."
"But he also said that you would be free once his grandson takes over the company. You have been having an affair with Alessandro so that you couldn't convince him to take over his grandfather's company. You dated Miss Alessandra while still messing with Mr. Alessandro. It proves you're a selfish person."
"I plan to tell Alessandra the truth," I repeated.
She scoffed. "Not before I tell her first."
I panicked but tried not to show it. If Anna told her first, Alessandra would take it the wrong way. "Please don't do that, Anna. I know I fucked up big time, but please, let me rectify things myself."
She was silent for a second, then she came closer and brushed a hand down my cheek. I flinched, but I remained still. "I have a proposal for you, Rowan. I just want a night with you."
My eyes widened, but she continued as if she hadn't just said something completely ridiculous. "I’ve wanted you for so long. I’ve loved you for a long time, but you’ve been reluctant. You never pay attention to me, and this is my chance to have you to myself."
She pulled her hand away and fixed me with a piercing stare. "I will give you from now until midnight to make a decision. If you don't call to tell me what you have decided, I will go to Miss Alessandra and tell her the truth. And also, if you give me 'no' as an answer, I’ll also expose your relationship with Mr. Alessandro. Not just to Miss Alessandra, but to Mr. Ricci as well."
With that, she walked away, looking completely euphoric, while I remained standing there wondering how my life had become so fucked up.