Chapter 17 — Ridiculous, naive, foolish.

Narrator:

Aylin stood motionless, her hands resting on the marble countertop, staring into space as Amalia's words rang in her ears.

“Roxanne. Mr. Adler's girlfriend.”

She felt her stomach turn slowly and painfully. As if someone had squeezed her insides with a cold, merciless hand.

Of course he had a girlfriend. What had she expected? That El Diablo was alone, waiting for a simple illegal nanny who could barely hold his gaze? She felt ridiculous... pathetic.

Amalia carried on as if she hadn't noticed the storm that had just erupted beside her. And Aylin, without quite knowing how, moved toward the door leading to the back hallway, which discreetly connected to the dining room.

From there, unseen, she could listen.

And listening was worse.

“Roxanne, as always, impeccable,” said Dominic, with that cheap-charm voice he used when he wanted to have fun.

“Oh, Dom, please...” she replied, laughing loudly, too loudly, as if she needed everyone to hear