BIGGEST NIGHTMARE

SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: SURE THING BY MIGUEL AND I HATE YOU BY SZA

Leonardo's face fell and his throat ran dry. Not his biggest nightmare happening right now. Guilt stabbed at his chest and he felt a knot in his stomach. With each breath he took, the knot got tighter and tighter.

"Who sent you this?", he said pointing to her phone which was now on the vanity.

"Who cares about that? Is it true? Bianca insinuated something like this but I didn't take her up on it", Arya said, trying to hold back her emotions.

Leonardo's eyes rested on hers and he saw pain and betrayal in her eyes.

The knot tightened.

"Arya….", he said stepping towards her.

She raised her hands. "Don't. Just tell me the truth. Don't you think I deserve to know?".

Leonardo knew that in that moment, he had to say the truth. Guilt hit him like the hangover after a drunk night.

"Yes". Just a word, but from the look on her eyes, he knew he had destroyed everything they have; everything they had.

A single tear slide down her cheeks. Followed by another and another till it turned into soft sobs.

"Arya, let me explain", he said.

"Explain", she said.

He was surprised she let him explain but what was there to explain. He had blatantly lied to her face twice. On the engagement and the day he gave her a tour. That was just two weeks ago.

"I admit I reached out to your father for your hand in marriage. He was already planning to marry you off to Don Masimo. I just wanted to get close to Carls for work reasons and I knew he also wanted it", he said.

Her chest tightened as she listened to his confession.

"I admit it was purely strategic and business but that was before I saw you".

She mind had a flashback.

"I remember you saying you've known me longer than I've known you. What did you mean?", she asked, her head slightly tilted.

Leonardo felt her slipping away with everything word he uttered.

FLASH BACK

"Don it is a pleasure to have you here. I have been writing to you but no response.", Carls shook his hand excitedly.

"Because what you've been offering is way too small", Leonardo replied still standing.

He frowned at the sight of an empty condom pack on the table. Carls quickly picked it up and pocketed it.

"I am ready to give you as much proceeds as you'd like. Being in business with you alone is a dream come true", Carls said.

"As for what you owe me…", Leonardo started.

"I know, Don. I will sell the last batch tomorrow and what I owe you would be paid", Carls said, his eyes briefly moving up to look at Rob.

"Tomorrow is your last chance to pay up", Leonardo added.

"Yes Don", he added.

Leonardo had heard some of Carls closest associates talking about something inhumane and coming here was just to get a clue of what. As much as he'd like to torture Carls till he confesses he knew that would be against the Mafia peace treaty. He walked to the window and his eyes landed on someone.

"Who is that?", he asked Carls. Rob was still standing by the door.

Carls followed his eyes. "That is my daughter, Arya and my wife, Camille".

Leonardo watched Arya and her mother taking a walk. Her amber eyes briefly flashed at his direction and he held his breath.

"Is she of marriageable age?", Don asked.

"Yes Don, I reached out to Don Masimo for her hand….", Carls was interrupted.

"I want to marry her", Don said.

Rob coughed and Carls face brightened with happiness.

"Don we came here for..", Rob started but was interrupted.

"Add this to the to-do list", Leonardo replied Rob.

Rob nodded and began to scribble something on his iPad.

Arya and her mother walked out of sight so he turned back to Carls.

"Yes, Don. The marriage will be planned in a few weeks", he replied.

"No, not weeks. I will reach out to you when I am ready for the wedding. Meanwhile, do well to send me portraits of her weekly", Don said.

"As you wish, Don", Carls responded.

FLASHBACK END

That was over a year ago. He never knew she would mean so much to him. He didn't know what he felt for her or how to express it but he knew Arya would be the death of him and his reason to live.

"Yes I had other intentions but I knew I wanted you since I set my eyes on you", he said.

"Yes, but I didn't have the luxury of deciding if I wanted the marriage. Is that why you're courting me now?", she asked.

"Arya, I am sorry. I should have told you the truth but I didn't want you to hate me. I can't live knowing you that", he said.

"Do you realize how selfish you sound?", she retorted, her body trembling.

He knew it was selfish of him to keep her in the dark but he'd rather be the villain with her on his side than be the hero who lost her.

Except now, everything is in the light.

"Those kisses, the flirting, this honeymoon, was that part of the plan?", she asked, more tears streaking down her cheeks.

"No, everything else after was genuine, even my apology right now is genuine", he said.

"My broken trust is also genuine. Why should I trust you now? You've been lying to my face the whole time. Didn't you feel guilty about it? You're so selfish and cold, why did you make love to me? Why did I let you touch me?", she directed the last question at herself.

Arya couldn't help but let the tears flow. Etiquette required that she never cry in front of a man but who fucking cares?

She felt dirty and used. She could still feel his hands on her skin and her pussy was still wet from their escapade earlier. It made her want to drown in her tears, choke on her breath. She felt disgusted with herself.

Leonardo could see the hurt in her eyes and it broke his heart or whatever rock that was in his chest.

"All I can say is I am sorry", he said, he felt his body tremble with fear; with the fear of loosing her.

"No, you're not. I am sorry, so sorry", she said as she wiped the tears from her face.

He looked at her with a confused face.

"Why are you sorry?", he asked.

"Because I want a divorce".