Chapter 783
His questions were laden with menace, causing Dalores’ voice to quiver. “Julio, I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore! Let’s meet and end this cleanly.”
“End this?” Julio’s laugh was cold. “You think you get to decide? We’ll meet, but I choose the place. I call the shots.”
Before Dalores could protest, he ended the call.
The phone slipped from Dalores’ grasp as a wave of dread washed over her. Julio was a looming specter in her life, a disaster she couldn’t escape. Dalores’ mind raced as her phone lit up once more, displaying a terse message from Julio. The meeting was set for three o’clock in the afternoon at a coffee shop. Glancing at the clock, Dalores noted with a sinking feeling that it was nearly one already. After a moment’s hesitation, Dalores dialed Kinsey. “Can you do me a favor?”
The coffee shop bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. Dalores was anxious. She fidgeted in her seat by the window, her eyes darting to her watch every few minutes. It had been six months since she had last seen Julio. The prospect of facing him now, under such strained circumstances, was daunting. She was sure Julio would be angry. As the minutes ticked closer to their meeting time, her heartbeat quickened.
She looked out the window and gave a slight pull on her sleeve. Julio emerged, the cool air shutting around him. He removed his sunglasses and scanned the area before his gaze settled on Dalores. Even through the window, Dalores could feel the chill from his icy stare.
Julio approached with a purposeful stride. His black jacket billowed slightly around him, accentuating his tall frame and giving him an imposing presence.
Without a word, Julio sat down across from Dalores. “Where is the child?” he demanded immediately.
Dalores slid the menu toward him, a futile attempt to delay the conversation. “Why don’t you order some coffee first? We can talk over a drink.”
“No need for that,” Julio dismissed her suggestion curtly. “I’m not here for small talk.”
“So, you’re only here for the child?” Dalores asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her hand gripping the edge of the tablecloth.
Julio’s affirmation came swiftly. As he nodded, Dalores’ eyes brimmed with tears, her worst fears beginning to materialize. “You promised me you’d deliver the baby and walk away afterward. You were the one who broke the promise, not me. How can you act as if I’m the villain here?”
Julio’s tone was icy. Dalores composed herself before replying. “Promise? It was you who cornered me into agreeing. How could you be so heartless, Julio? Do you even understand what it means to be a mother? You—”
“I didn’t force you to have a baby!” Julio interjected sharply.
“You chose to sleep with me. You didn’t take precautions, and you chose to keep the baby. All those decisions were yours.” His words stung Dalores’ heart.
It seemed like, in his mind, she had always been the one moving toward him, while he had remained detached. She remembered their first night together; he had been intoxicated. The second time, she hadn’t refused. The third time… the last time, when she had gotten pregnant, she had been willing to sleep with him to help him because he had been drugged.
So, she had asked for this?
Dalores’ gaze dropped, her lashes fluttering as tears began their slow descent onto her hands. Seeing this, Julio’s expression softened.