The smoke curled around Manuel's face. He put the light blue cigarette in his mouth and spat out a mouthful of smoke. Then, he said in a low voice, "It's true."
After the smoke dissipated, Serina widened her eyes and asked in confusion, "Manuel! It can't be true! You have said that you like Ainsley the most, but why are you getting engaged to Irene? Ainsley is still missing. Didn't you say that you would protect her and make her my sister-in-law?"
As Serina spoke, tears fell from her eyes. She choked and continued, "So everything you said before was a lie to me! You are a coward, a bastard, and a womanizer!"
Serina chattered away while Manuel listened to her carefully without saying a word.
He had a self-deprecating smile on his face and thought to himself, Serina is right. I am a coward. I am too cowardly to take a gamble. I am afraid that I will expose Ainsley to the slightest possibility of danger.
"You're right."