Chapter 33: Chapter 33

ESMERALDA could not do anything when Amadeus held her hand. As much as she wanted to refuse, she saw Aiden’s happiness because it was not every day that the brothers were getting along well. Despite Amadeus’ pressure toward him, she knew he valued his relationship with his brother more than anything else. And the party was not the right place to ruin it.

Amadeus led her to the dance floor. She flinched at the electrifying warmth that crept through her body. Her body was a traitor. As traitor as Amadeus.

She wanted to run away from him. But before she could execute her plan, he had pulled her close to his body. She placed her palm against his chest to push him away, but he had already anticipated that.

“Do you want to make a scene, Esmeralda?” he whispered to her. Her heart pounded louder as she felt the warmth of his breath against her ear. “Do you want to embarrass Aiden?”

She boldly met his gaze. “I am not the type to make a scene because I am not thirsty for people’s attention.”

He smiled at her challenge. “Then relax.”

Esmeralda did not know how she could ever avoid their bodies pressing together. “Can you move a little?”

She noticed other people dancing who were barely touching. While Amadeus was intentionally doing it, and even brought his lips closer to her ear. "We've been closer than this before," he said in a sensual tone. "Smile, Esmeralda. Show everyone that you are happy dancing with me. Make my brother happy. Do you want to ruin his night?"

When she looked over her shoulder, she saw Aiden talking to the other guests. He even smiled at her. He had no idea that she already wanted to strangle his brother.

Esmeralda pressed her lips together rather than argue with him further. But her nose did not miss his scent that enveloped her. Once again, she remembered the night he claimed her.

She would rather get mad than reminisced the night they shared. He was not the man she used to love. He had already become her enemy.

“How have you been? You look different,” he remarked.

She grinned. “I’m good…” She purposely hung her words and glanced at him. “So what should I call you? Richard or Amadeus?”

He shrugged. “Whatever suits you.”

“I prefer the devil,” she said through gritted teeth. She could no longer hide the madness she felt from his betrayal.

He laughed heartily. “Nice sense of humor, Esmeralda,” he said in a loud voice for everyone to hear. “But I must admit that you look the part of a perfect fiancée for my brother.” His eyes roamed around her body as if telling her that he knew how she looked if she was naked.

She felt her face flushed. But instead, she did not turn her eyes away from his handsome face to show that she was not affected. “You, too. You look better with your tuxedo compared to the clothes the barrio people lent you.”

His lips curled into a smirk. “Thank you. But I guess I look better without my clothes,” he uttered in a hypnotizing tone.

The image of his naked body flowed into her senses like water. She memorized every touch of his skin and the muscles in his body. Just like how he knew her body.

She pulled away from him as if she was burned. “T-take me back to Aiden. He needed me by his side. He still has to introduce me to the guests.” It was the first time she went out with him, to introduce him to the people. Their wedding preparations remained private.

“The perfect fiancée…” he said in a sarcastic tone. “Aren’t you going to wait until the music ends before going back to him? Don’t you miss spending time with me? Don’t you miss my touch?” His thumb caressed the fabric of her gown as if seducing her. “I bet my brother can’t kiss you like I do.”

“Shut up. We’re getting married…”

“That didn’t stop you before,” he said with a grin.

“And what about the woman you love? Aren’t you ashamed of her?”

“No. I’m not cheating on her. Between the two of us, who’s cheating on her fiancé?”

Esmeralda felt like it was a slap to her face. It was her who cheated on Aiden even though they were not really in love. And her biggest enemy already knew it. The man who said he was falling for her, that he was willing to change her world, and she was stupid enough to wait for his return. Little did she know that he was not coming back because Richard Infante was not real. Amadeus dela Merced would never love her even if she was the last woman on earth. She was a piece of trash, and everything they shared meant nothing.

She stared at Amadeus’ mocking face with pure disgust. He knew her weakness. He was forcing her to remember her night of madness. He loved to watch her in defeat.

“You’re disgusting!” she snarled and turned her back. She did not care what other people would think about her leaving him in the middle of the dance floor.