Read Online Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba - Free Book Online Page B

Tessa’s world had turned upside down. She felt numb with
shock.
    Daniel knelt in front of
her, held her hands tight between his. “Tessa, it’s a mistake, it
means nothing… I… I didn’t expect you back.”
    Emptiness rose in Tessa’s
heart and soul; no feelings whatsoever left inside. This was simply
too much. The sudden urge to vomit made her jump and run towards
the bathroom.
    He followed her and after
she vomited, he tried to help her wash her face but she pushed him
away.
    “ Leave.” No rage, no
emotion, nothing behind her words.
    By the time Tessa returned
to the living room, Daniel waited for her fully dressed. The other
woman was gone.
    “ I cannot tell you how
sorry I am… I didn’t mean to hurt you… I thought you were on your
way to Vienna…it doesn’t mean anything to me, it’s you I love,” he
pleaded.
    She looked at him and saw a
stranger.
    “ How long?”
    He didn’t answer right away
then he cleared his throat and said, “It’s not important, she means
nothing to me. Look, Tessa, I know I have some issues, but I do
love you, you have to believe me and give me another chance. I can
change; just let me prove it to you.”
    He tried to get closer and
hug her, but she pushed him away. “Do. Not. Try. That. Ever. You
have until tonight to move all your stuff from my apartment. I’ll
change the locks afterwards and I’ll throw away whatever is not
taken. Do not call me ever again, and if you ever see me, please
walk on the other side of the street,” Tessa said with an infinite
burning rage behind her voice. She turned, fury driving her
actions, grabbed her keys and purse and stormed out the
house.
    Daniel knew better than to
follow her.
    By now Tessa functioned by
instinct. She drove to her mama’s house, went straight for the
bathroom and threw up again. When she thought it was over, that she
had nothing left to give, the urge to vomit shook her body
violently and purged itself once more. Her stomach emptied, she
crawled in her mama’s bed and cried until she fell asleep. When she
woke up, it took a moment to recognize her surrounding. The day
began to replay itself in her thoughts. She looked at her watch and
saw it was after midnight. She had slept more than twelve hours.
She made herself a cup of tea and mindlessly turned the TV
on.
    She couldn’t process a
normal thought; the image of Daniel and the naked woman intruded in
her thoughts, no matter how much she tried to push it away. She
knew that voice, but couldn’t put a face to it. She rummaged
through her brain for signs that should’ve raised red flags for
Daniel’s infidelity. Since high school they’d been on and off
together. They’d broken up before. His spending addiction and too
much partying were the only reasons they ever fought. But she’d
compromised; she wasn’t perfect either. Not that her business trips
and her workaholic life style made up for his flaws, but they’d
managed to work out their differences and stay together.
    Did she push him in to
another woman’s arms? Is this my fault?
What did I do wrong? What went wrong? She
could forgive and forget many things, but cheating? Never, she’d
never accept that. Her whole being protested against it. She felt
empty, like someone or something had erased any love, any care, any
feeling she had for Daniel. She felt humiliated and
hurt.
    Victor’s voice persisted in
her mind—alongside the hurt—telling her she was no longer needed in
the company. And seeing Alessandro again, under the least expected
circumstances. True, she knew he worked at a bank, but she had no
idea which bank or what exactly his job was. Seeing him now brought
back the memories of that summer night, his feverish hands ravaging
her body, her total abandon to desire and raw passion.
    Tessa turned off the TV.
She went and lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She’d lost her
mama, her job and her boyfriend. Her life was in pieces; she had no control over
anything. An overwhelming, helpless