Intertwining his fingers together, he exhaled a deep breath. “I met with Rio.”
“And?” she eagerly asked. “What did he say?”
“He said in order to lift the bounty off of you, I would have to pay.”
Bria’s brows furrowed. “How much?”
“It’s a lot. I don't wanna say but just know it was paid.”
Cali breathed a sigh of relief. “So, it’s over?”
He nodded. “Yes, for now.”
Wearing pinched brows, Cali asked, “Why did you say for now?”
“Because I don't know when you're going to get the urge to ruin your life again, Calia. At thirty-five years old, I would think you would make better decisions. I don't think you understand the severity of your actions.”
“But I do. I’ve been regretting everything that happened.”
“Regretting is one thing, but you had an affair for years. You caused Rio to be seriously injured and he’s angry about that. As a man, I can say that I don't blame him for wanting you killed.”
Cali didn’t think it was possible to feel worse than she already did. Her life was a result of her actions. She tried to right her wrongs and failed miserably. Now she had nothing to show.
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked, frustratedly. “I don't know how to make things right. If I could go back and make better decisions, I would.”
“Well, that won’t be necessary because Rio is filing for divorce.”
Cali’s chest felt like it had been punctured by a blade. A divorce had always been a huge possibility but hearing it confirmed shattered what was left of her heart. In some delusional way, Cali thought she could fix her marriage with Rio. She assumed that if she could have one conversation, that he would give her a do-over.
“I mean, you expected that, right?” Bria asked.
Cali was unable to verbally lie, so she nodded her head. “I just…” She paused, trying to find the right words. “I don't know. Maybe I was hoping Rio would give me a chance to—”
“Chance to what?” Douglas interrupted her. “A chance to fuck him over again? Cali, Rio will never trust you. He will never look at you the same. You're a liability now. No one wants a woman who don't know how to keep her legs closed.”
Taken aback by his harsh words, Cali’s eyes watered without warning.
“Do you know how much I just had to pay because of your bullshit?” he continued ranting. “Hundreds of thousands. I just paid a shitload of money for your safety. Be glad that Rio was willing to accept that because most men would’ve had your head on a platter.”
She cleared her throat, hoping the agony would go away. “It sounds like you didn’t want to pay.”
“Of course, I didn’t!” he shouted. “Do you think I wanna give away money of that magnitude because you were out giving away your body to other men?”
Bria held her finger up and asserted, “It was only one guy.”
Douglas cut his eyes at her. “We don't know how many it was since all she does is lie.”
“Wow.” Cali was stunned. “So, now I’m a lying whore, got it.”
“Oh, don't you dare turn this on me.” He pointed at her with his index finger. “You caused all of this. This was your doing. You portrayed yourself as a woman who fucks around on your husband and put him in harm’s way. So, yes, you look like a whore who constantly lies. Don't get mad at me for the way you have presented yourself. Be mad at you.”
If Cali had a knife, she would have sliced her wrists and watched herself bleed out. That way, the pain of what she had done would’ve stopped. She didn’t think she would ever heal from all the chaos she’d created.
“Now, what I advise is that you stay out of the way. I will send some people to get your things from the house you once shared with Rio. Are you going to be staying with us?” he asked.
There was no way Cali could bear seeing the disappointment on her parents’ face.
“No, she’s going to stay here with us,” Bria answered for her.
