Chapter 4 - The Truth Wren Couldn’t Hide
The attack on the gate failed.
No one entered the house.
But Rafael returned three hours later with a bruised cheek and fury in his eyes.
Wren waited in the sitting room.
“You promised,” she said.
“I came back.”
She wanted to yell at him.
Instead, she hugged him.
Rafael froze.
Then his arms closed carefully around her.
“You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Shut up.”
His chest moved with a quiet laugh.
For three days afterward, the estate remained locked down.
Then Toby arrived.
Wren nearly knocked over her walker reaching him.
“Toby!”
Her younger brother crossed the room and carefully embraced her.
“Easy.”
She pulled back.
“You look good.”
“So do you.”
“I was shot five times.”
“Then you look terrible.”
She laughed.
Toby looked over her shoulder at Rafael.
“So you’re him.”
Rafael raised an eyebrow.
“Him?”
“The terrifying rich guy paying for everything.”
Wren groaned.
“Toby.”
“What? He is.”
Rafael extended his hand.
“Toby.”
Toby shook it.
“My sister says you’re controlling.”
“She uses stronger words privately.”
“I heard that,” Wren said.
Dinner that evening was the first time Wren felt almost normal.
Then Toby ruined everything.
Isabetta was telling the story again.
“My chair went backward, and Wren threw herself over me.”
Toby stopped eating.
Wren noticed.
“Toby.”
He stared at her.
“You jumped?”
Silence.
Wren’s stomach dropped.
“Toby, don’t.”
He frowned.
“You told me on the phone you slipped.”
Rafael slowly set down his glass.
Isabetta looked confused.
“What?”
Toby realized too late.
Wren closed her eyes.
Rafael spoke.
“Wren.”
She stood carefully.
“I need some air.”
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“What does he mean?”
Wren looked at him.
There was no escape now.
“I slipped.”
Isabetta stared.
Wren forced herself to continue.
“The lotion fell. My shoe hit it. Then I caught the rug.”
No one moved.
“I didn’t see the SUV and decide to save anyone.”
Rafael’s face became unreadable.
“The bullets hit me because I fell into the wrong place.”
Isabetta whispered, “Wren.”
“I tried telling you in the hospital.”
Rafael stood.
“But you didn’t.”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
“You let us believe you deliberately took those bullets.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing everything.”
Rafael laughed once without humor.
“What exactly did you think you were going to lose?”
“The surgery. Toby’s treatment. Your protection.”
His eyes hardened.
“So you lied.”
“I stayed silent.”
“That’s a convenient distinction.”
“Rafael,” Isabetta warned.
He ignored her.
“You watched me tear apart my life trying to repay a debt that never existed.”
Wren flinched.
“I never asked for any of it.”
“You accepted it.”
“Yes.”
“Every dollar.”
“Yes.”
“Every night I sat beside your bed.”
“That wasn’t money.”
“No. It was worse.”
Wren’s voice broke.
“I know.”
Rafael walked away from the table.
She followed.
“Rafael.”
He turned sharply.
“You should have told me.”
“I tried.”
“You had weeks.”
“I was scared.”
“Of me?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
She swallowed.
“Later I was scared you’d stop looking at me the way you did.”
That silenced him.
Wren continued.
“I know what that makes me.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“A liar?”
“Yes.”
“An opportunist?”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“If that’s what you think.”
Rafael looked furious.
But hurt was beneath it.
That was worse.
“You want the truth?” she whispered. “I hated every gift. Every payment. Every time your mother thanked me. Because I knew I hadn’t earned any of it.”
Rafael looked away.
“But I didn’t fake caring about her.”
No response.
“I didn’t fake worrying when you left during the attacks.”
Still nothing.
“And I didn’t fake what happened between us.”
His jaw tightened.
“What happened between us?”
Wren stared at him.
“You know.”
“Say it.”
“I fell in love with you.”
Isabetta closed her eyes.
Toby looked at the table.
Rafael’s face did not move.
Wren nodded painfully.
“Right.”
She turned.
“Claire can help me pack.”
Rafael finally spoke.
“You can’t go back to your apartment.”
“I’ll find somewhere else.”
“You’re still recovering.”
“I’ll manage.”
He stepped toward her.
She stepped back.
“No.”
That stopped him.
“I lied to you,” Wren said. “But you don’t get to keep me because you’re angry.”
“I’m not keeping you.”
“Good.”
She looked at Isabetta.
“I’m sorry.”
Isabetta rose.
“Wren—”
“I’m so sorry.”
Then she looked at Rafael one last time.
He said nothing.
Wren walked away.
---
Two hours later, Rafael found his mother waiting in his office.
“You are an idiot,” Isabetta said.
“Not tonight.”
“Especially tonight.”
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
“For weeks.”
“Yes.”
“And you want me to ignore it?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Isabetta stepped closer.
“I want you to ask yourself one question.”
“What?”
“If Wren had told you the truth on the first night, would you have let her die?”
Rafael’s expression changed.
“No.”
“Would you have paid for her surgery?”
“Yes.”
“Protected her from Marchetti?”
“Yes.”
“Helped her brother?”
He hesitated.
Then, “Yes.”
Isabetta nodded.
“Then the lie changed less than your pride wants to believe.”
Rafael looked away.
“She let me believe she saved you.”
“She did save me.”
“She fell.”
“And landed between me and bullets.”
“That’s not courage.”
“No.”
Isabetta’s voice softened.
“But everything she did afterward was.”
Rafael stared at the dark window.
“She loves you.”
He said nothing.
His mother smiled sadly.
May you like
“And that, my stubborn son, is what frightens you.”
---
