I won't give in

Mariana

And during dinner, I told her everything that had happened, and surprisingly, she didn't hate Ethan as much as I thought she would.

"I feel sorry for him, Mari," were her words. "I hope he doesn't take a few more years to realize the mistake he's making."

I didn't say anything in response. I missed that idiot, but I didn't want to admit it, so I continued my meal in silence, and to my relief, we didn't bring up that subject again.

"But now, being serious," Virginia said with a grave expression, "Do you think he will expose our story to the media?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "Ethan is blinded by this revenge, but I don't want to believe he's capable of anything."

"We should be prepared," my friend said, and she was right. It was better to expect the worst, so we wouldn't be caught off guard.

"I constantly check the news, search my name on Google, and always keep an eye on my social media too," she continued. "You never know what's circulating out there about us, with this threat hanging over our heads."

I couldn't accuse Virginia of being pessimistic or exaggerated when that was our reality at the moment.

"Sometimes I think it would be better if this whole story came out all at once," I confessed with genuine sadness. "That way, we would be free from it."

Virginia and I exchanged a goodbye hug, and she left while I was just starting my shift at the store, which I wouldn't leave until ten o'clock.

Hardly had Virginia walked out the store doors when Ethan showed up, and against my will and better judgment, my whole body went into turmoil.

"What are you doing here, Ethan?"

I didn't even wait for him to get close enough to question him. I was filled with so much anger, not only at seeing him in my store but also at myself for allowing myself to have feelings for someone like him.

"We need to talk, Mariana."

Despite his attempt to speak humbly, in which he miserably failed, his voice revealed all his displeasure with the situation, and I already knew he would feel that way because his desires weren't prevailing in this situation.

"We have nothing else to talk about," I responded without any guilt. "I've said everything I wanted to say, and I don't regret anything I've said."

"But I haven't said everything I wanted to," he insisted, looking at me with pleading eyes. "I need you to listen to what I have to say. It'll only take a few minutes."

"Why should I believe you? You're nothing but a scoundrel, someone without any scruples."

As soon as I said those words, I realized I had achieved my goal, which was solely to hurt Ethan as much as he had hurt me. And even though I was also suffering inside, seeing how he seemed shaken by my accusations, I wouldn't regret it.

"I know I deserve your contempt," he acknowledged that much. "Still, I ask you to listen to me, Mariana. Let's talk alone, without all these people around."

"I'm not going crazy!" I noticed the slip and tried to correct myself. "I have a lot to do here in the store after being absent for so many days. Perhaps another time, who knows."

There wouldn't be another opportunity, I was just being ironic, but I knew myself well enough to know that it wasn't a good idea to be alone with Ethan, especially when the place had already been the stage for heated moments that made me nervous just by remembering. But he doesn't need to know about that weak spot of mine.

In fact, Ethan is one of my biggest weaknesses.

"I have important things to say."

"But I don't want to listen."

We stared at each other in a contest of who could hold out longer, or perhaps who would give in first. This time, it wouldn't be me.

"You're not going to listen to me at all?" Ethan asked as if it were his last attempt.

"There's nothing coming from you that I want to hear."

It was tough to do that, but I was strong enough not to succumb to that handsome, charming face that always manages to take me to cloud nine. Because an intelligent woman like me doesn't solely live for sex.

Modesty has always been my greatest quality, of course.

"Alright then," Ethan finally accepts my decision. "I hope that at some point, we can meet again, and I can say what I wanted to say today, Mariana."

Ethan turned around and left, making me sigh with relief and even internally congratulating myself for being able to resist firmly and without regrets. I wasn't regretful for putting an end to whatever it was between us.

Surely, he intended to use some trickery or blackmail to continue manipulating me, and I wouldn't be fooled by Ethan Constantino's pitiful puppy-dog face. He is not someone to be trusted.

Ethan

I left Mariana's store feeling terrible. She had rejected me without even hearing what I had to say about anything, but I could never blame her for anything. I had truly been a jerk to Mariana, and now I was just reaping what I had sown, as cliché as it may sound.

But I hadn't lost all hope yet, and I would fight tooth and nail to win over that incredibly audacious woman who effortlessly captured my heart. The truth is, ever since I saw her coming down the stairs of Murilo's mansion at the beach house, Mariana had managed to shake me and knock down all my resolutions and plans for my life.

I remembered my decision to visit my parents in Campo Limpo, but I couldn't leave São Paulo without first resolving some pending issues, the most important of which was having a very serious conversation with Murilo Fernandes.

The fact that Mariana was so angry with me wasn't solely due to the harsh words I said to her when she was in my office, words that I regretted from the moment they left my mouth.

I know that what Mariana truly desired was for me to finally settle my dispute with Murilo and give up this damn revenge, which had brought me no satisfaction or peace. All I had achieved so far was an annoyance and causing many problems for myself, including getting involved with an extremely selfish and shallow girl like Bruna, and worst of all, losing Mariana just when we were getting along so well and I was very close to winning her over for good.