Chapter 88: The Car Clash
The disrespect. The insults. After cheating on her, and humiliating her, he dared to believe she had been raped? Was she doing the paternity test because of that? He had believed the damn test before he ever believed her. He had trusted a piece of paper over the woman he claimed to love. That hurt more than anything else. Ethan ran a hand over his face, his voice breaking slightly. "Help me understand, Mara. If I was the only man... and you weren’t raped... why would you need a test? And was it my sample or his sample that was used? Is it mine... or his that came out negative?" His voice wavered with uncertainty.
"I have all these questions in my head, and I can’t... I can’t do this anymore. I need you to tell me the truth. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you before I jumped to conclusions, and I was wrong. But I’ll listen now. I promise. I won’t get angry. If you could forgive me for Maria, then maybe I can try to let us move past this too."
He tried to steady himself, to keep his voice from shaking. But deep down, he wasn’t ready for the truth.
And Mara could see it written all over his face.
"Oh, Ethan." Mara’s voice was cold, laced with disappointment. "You know, I blame myself for what happened with Maria Isabel. We had just gotten married, and when I should have been focusing on our marriage, I brought my traumatized friend into our home. And for that, I was wrong. But I trusted you both so much... that was my mistake. And in the end, it was your choice. You both decided to have that affair."
Ethan’s face fell, but Mara wasn’t done.
"But this? This is entirely on you, Ethan." Her voice was like steel, unwavering. "What possible reason would I have to cheat on you? You never trusted me. You never respected me. Maybe I was just some kind of invisible trophy to you. I was stupid once but not anymore." She scoffed, shaking her head. "I’ll leave it to your imagination. Think whatever you want. At this point, I don’t even want to see your face."
Ethan’s eyes welled up as he took a shaky breath. "If that baby was mine, you just killed him! At least explain the DNA test to me, help me understand if there is still a chance for us," he pleaded.
"Chance?" Mara let out a bitter laugh. "I gave you plenty. And you threw them all right back in my face. I never let a man walk all over my dignity in twenty years. But I guess love makes you stupid." Her voice dropped, and for a moment, the fire in her eyes was replaced with something even stronger, resolve. "Guess what? I woke up from that dream. That fantasy of love I thought I was in."
She stepped closer, her voice low but firm. "Chance, you say? I don’t need it. I am done with you. But one thing is certain, you will never get my forgiveness for this insult. For all the names you called me." She took a deep breath, eyes burning into his. "I will remember. And I will make you remember too."