10

Lia was stagnant without reaction for several minutes, Nadia had already disappeared from her sight. The girl swallowed the painful saliva and went back to the room, she wasn't even hungry anymore. She couldn't help herself when tears wanted to escape her eyes, she started to cry and lay down on the bed until she fell asleep.

The next day, he took a quick shower, dressed in casual clothes he had never worn before. She remembered when her mother came home after a day at work with several gifts for her, Luzia always gave everything to her daughter.

Lia was still hungry because she hadn't had dinner, but she would also refuse to have breakfast at the risk of finding Lazzaro there. He knew it was just a sham marriage and that didn't ease the pain in his chest. He didn't owe her anything, of course he wouldn't show it but he also couldn't help but be sad because deep down he knew, he was in love.

- Good morning. She walked past Magdalena, who smiled.

- Good morning lady. Want something special for coffee? the housekeeper asked.

— No, orbigada. I'm going to take a walk around... And, please call me Lia. he asked, giving the woman a kind look.

The young woman walked out of the Bartholomeu manor destined to simply walk away. She didn't want to be locked in a room all day and the farther away from her husband the better. He stopped in front of the beach, sitting on a wooden bench, he felt the strong wind hit his face when sadness grew, he was lonely more than ever.

— I wanted you back so much, Mom... — She wiped away a tear.

- Hello! You over here. He was startled to turn and see Hayden.

"Will you stop scaring me?" She got up and started walking away.

"Wait, what should I call you?" Lady Bartholomew? he asked sarcastically.

- Very funny. My name is Lia Hamilton! he exclaimed and kept walking.

“Why are you alone? Where is your husband?

“I don't know and I don't want to know. And stop following me right now. Hayden ran and got in front of her.

— I was going to have breakfast. Do you want to accompany me? She rolled her eyes and stopped.

"No, and I already told you to pretend we didn't know each other." he answered and turned and walked in the other direction.

— Chopped bacon, fried with barbecue sauce, eggs and cheese... Don't you want that? — Leah was hungry.

Very hungry.

It made her mouth water and she knew how bad it was to feel hungry and so she ended up giving in to the boy's insistence.

- All good. But you pay because I have no money. - he said and he smiled victoriously.

— Whoever invites always pays. — he signals for her to follow him to a tent near the beach.

"I've never eaten anything so delicious in my life." she muttered with her mouth full.

- Bacon with eggs? This is something people eat every day, Lia.

“People with money. she corrected.

- Where are you from? he asked and she just answered.

- From right here. he only spoke.

"How did you and my brother meet?"

- I think I understand. — Lia put both hands on the table — You're just chasing me to find out about me and Lázzaro.

- No! Of course. Lia didn't feel confident in Hayden's answer.

- Thank you for the coffee. He threw his napkin on the table and left the tent.

“Lia, wait. It's not that. Hayden tried to explain but she didn't have time.

He just walked too fast away, he couldn't keep up as he needed to pay the bill before leaving.

"I think all men are idiots!" she whispered to herself as she walked back to the mansion.

When he got in, he saw Lázzaro's car in the garden, he felt his heart race immediately and a shiver run through his body.

— Lia. Have a minute? — again Magdalena accosted her at the entrance.

- Clear. replied the girl smiling.

— It's Senhor Bartholomeu. I'm worried about him. The woman's look was almost desperate.

- What there was? The girl broke out in a cold sweat.

'He's been out all night and he's just come back in quite a bit of a state now.' It seems that he drank too much, he doesn't eat anymore, he barely lives. Please help him, I am very scared for his condition. I don't know what's going on with this boy who was such a lively and happy man. The mature woman's voice was shaky and desperate.

"Didn't he sleep at home that night?" - Lia asked confused.

- No.

- He is sure? Because I saw... - He thought if it was the right thing to say and then stopped.

- Yes I have. I stopped by his room last night for dinner and didn't find him, not for breakfast this morning either. His car was gone the rest of yesterday afternoon and the entire night.

Confusion was formed in the girl's head. How had Nadia left his room at three o'clock in the morning when he spent the night out? Who was she there with? Had he done that just to tease her?

Would he have cried and been angry with Lazzaro for nothing?

"Something very serious is going on." I only ask that you be patient with him and help him. I beg.

“Okay, Mrs. Fabree. Allow me to go talk to him. He shook the lady's hand comfortingly.

I just don't know if he'll talk to me...

Even fearful she went towards the man's room. She knocked twice on the door and got no response, she got worried and ended up going in anyway.

"Lazzaro?" he called Señor Bartholomeu dismissively, thinking that he no longer needed such formalities.

When he came out of the bathroom with only a white towel wrapped around his body, his wet hair all disheveled, like water running down his sculpted and strong chest, Lia felt her heart beat out of her chest.

She felt a wave of desire dominate her body making her wet her lips automatically.

"What are you doing here, Lia?" Oh, that voice...

The girl never imagined it was so pleasant to hear a voice.

— I-I just... —she turned around, showing respect and with great difficulty in speaking due to her labored breathing — Could you get dressed?

He smirked.

"Why did you turn around?" he asked taking steps closer to where she was.

The body began to shake. She had never felt that before and looked like she wanted to have a heart attack.

“Because you're almost naked. she replied, feeling the nerves of her intimacy tightening.

"You've seen it before, don't you remember?" He really wanted to tease her.

Of course he remembered, also how it had turned out. Hot as an oven.

Although he was still quite drunk from having spent the whole night getting drunk in a bar, Lázzaro, on a thoughtless impulse, took off his towel.

"Okay, you can turn around now." He stifled a laugh.

I never wanted to smile when I wasn't with Lia. He was aware that he was drunk and therefore the irrational attitudes.

She turned slowly, facing the man's completely naked body. The gaze moved all over the body by itself, the thick thighs, the drawn torso and... The thing between her legs was huge, reaching almost mid-thigh. She took a deep breath and put her hand over her mouth, holding back a moan that wanted to escape, she could almost melt with desire at that moment.

She screamed.

"You said I could manage!" she shouted indignantly and he broke into a fit of laughter.

“You've literally never seen a naked man in your life. he concluded without stopping smiling.

"Stop making fun of me right now!" I was as angry as I was confused.

He was still recovering from the laughter and put on a black robe.

“Satisfied? - He asked.

- Yes.

- Right. Now tell me. What brings you here? He looked serious this time.

She swallowed hard, taking in the dark color of his eyes and how very handsome they were together.

"I just wanted to know if you were okay." He shrugged and looked up at the ceiling.

- No. I am not well. Do you want something else? — the arrogance was there again.

In fact, what Lia didn't know was that living without the certainty of life was too much for a man full of dreams yet to come true. That all he wanted was to put a wall between the two of them, he was in serious danger of becoming attached to her as she was to him and he could never allow that to happen.

He never wanted to see Lia suffer again and if it was necessary to act like a cretin for her to hate him and not suffer with his future death, he would do it without hesitation.

The young woman was special to him and he had never, ever in his life laid eyes on a woman like her. Beautiful, smart and kind hearted. The packages are usually found separately, however Lia Hamilton was complete and he had no right to make her lose someone she cares about and was referring to him when he died.

- I am a little tired. I need to sleep and for you to leave. - he said.

Lia would almost feel humiliated if she didn't have the same concern in her heart as Magdalena. This time he would not let himself be shaken, but insist.

- Excellent. Then I will rest here with you.