The loftiness in his expression suddenly faded. “My body.”
She grinned. "You're right. I just wanted to free myself from my responsibilities, even just for a while. And you happened to be there," she said in a casual tone.
What was her difference from Amadeus? She was sure that sleeping with different women meant nothing to him. No matter what she says, he would never believe that she was a decent woman. Instead of getting hurt, Esmeralda became tougher.
He narrowed his eyes. “You are a user.”
“Yes. That’s what you think of me, right? A user? It’s funny that I never told you that I like you. And I’m not that stupid to believe that you love me or you have fallen in love with me. You’re a dirty secret that I would never tell the man I’ll marry.”
He clenched his jaw and drank the wine. “I am hurt. Am I that cheap to you?”
“Don’t pretend that you’re hurt. I’m sure that our meeting was planned. You just wanted to find something to use against me.”
Amadeus laughed blandly. “Do you mean I intentionally drove across a broken bridge and risk my life so that you could save me? Wow! I am not a psychic. You give me too much credit, Esmeralda.”
"You know that's not what I meant," she said through narrowed eyes. "You're smart, Amadeus. You got everything planned. You went to San Luis to tell me to stay out of your brother's life. You were so mad at me that you rushed to me in the middle of the typhoon. You must think that you are a king and that you can overcome the forces of nature. Unfortunately, you almost drowned. But you were still lucky. Because it happened that I was there myself to rescue you. So you decided not to give your real name. You don't have a friend in San Nicholas. And I had no idea where on earth you got the name 'Richard Infante.'" She clapped. "You are a good actor. You made us all believe. You convinced me with your lies. I gave you everything I have. So what do you call me now? A stupid barrio lass?"
“That’s enough, Esmeralda!” he said as he was deaf from all her accusations. “I did not mean to fool all of you. I was forced to disguise myself because I was scared that you’ll get mad at me and send me away if you found out who I am.”
She folded her arms. "I understand you. You needed help. You have nothing to boast about back then. It's a shame to swallow your pride if I found out who you really are. It must be painful to receive help from the person you were mean with, right? That no matter what kindness I show you, I will feed you with poison once I discover your true identity."
"No. Not like that." There was no expression on his face, and she had no idea what he was thinking at the moment.
She put her arms on her waist. “But since you were already there, you found a way to your advantage. While I was busy taking care of you, you found a way to destroy me!”
“Yes. I admit that I went to San Luis to stop your wedding with Aiden. I was ready to give you a huge amount of money to stay away from my brother. But that was before you saved me, and I got to know you…”
Esmeralda laughed derisively. “You’re right. You can just make me stay away from your brother without spending a single cent.” In an instant, anger was written all over her face. “Because you have uncovered my weakness by using your greatest talent—seducing women. You’re quite good at that.”
“I told you I’d come back for you. If only you have waited for me, I would have done things differently. I told you to trust me.”
"Do you really think I'm that stupid to believe in your promises? To believe in your love? I know you're not coming back. I know you'll eventually forget about me." She would never tell him that she waited, that she hoped he'd call or text her until a while ago. That even if she was hurting now, there was still a part of him in her heart. "You were not yet satisfied lying to my neighbors and me. You even dared lie to the people back at the party."
“I was not lying. I was telling the truth the whole time.”
“Except you love me… and I love you.” As if there was a huge lump in Esmeralda’s throat when she said that. And she could no longer stand looking at Amadeus anymore. She opened her clutch bag and retrieved the necklace he gave her. She threw it to him. The meaning of that necklace from Richard was a lie. It meant nothing to her anymore. “Since your show’s over, I’m leaving now. You win… for now,” she said and turned her back.
She was holding the doorknob when Amadeus called her. "What's your plan, Esmeralda? Are you still going to marry Aiden?" he asked loudly as she walked away.
“It’s none of your business anymore.”
“You can’t marry him anymore. He won’t take you back.”
“I’d rather go to Aiden and begged him to take me back than be with you,” she snarled at Amadeus.
He pushed the door to prevent her from opening it. “Everyone already knows you’re mine.”
“It was Richard Infante who claimed me and not you. Because if I had known back then that you were Amadeus…”
He planted a kiss on her nape. “Even if I’m Amadeus dela Merced now, you still want me.”
Esmeralda shut her eyes emphatically. He already knew her weakness, but she had to resist it. She gathered all her courage, faced him, and pushed him away. "Stay away from me. You disgust me."
She opened the door and quickly ran to the elevator, away from him. She had no idea how to leave the place. Aiden had already left her. She had no money left for the taxi fare. She had no one to ask for help because everyone in the hotel was Amadeus's allies. She saw no one as she approached the elevator, and she could hear Amadeus's footsteps.
“Don’t be crazy, Esmeralda. Aiden won’t take you back. He won’t marry you anymore,” he said.
"I'd rather go back to him than be with you. It doesn't matter if he's mad." The elevator opened, and Florida stepped out.
“Old woman, stop her!”
She had no idea if the woman was her ally, but she ran behind her back. “Please help me get away from this place. I’m begging you. I don’t want to be here.”
Florida’s gaze shifted from her to Amadeus. “What have you done to her?”
She pressed the button of the elevator, and it opened. She quickly got in. Amadeus was about to follow her, but Florida stopped him. "I'll go with her."
“I just can’t let her leave like this,” he protested.
Florida hugged her. “I’ll take care of her. Leave her alone for now. Please.”
In the end, Amadeus stepped out of the elevator, his shoulders down. “Okay. But this is not yet over.”
And she saw the seriousness in Amadeus's eyes as the door closed. Esmeralda knew she was going to see him again. He was not yet done making her life a living hell.