Chapter 1632:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

Something in Romina’s tone felt sincere. Carly hesitated, then turned off her engine and followed her into the house.

She took a seat on the couch, and Romina brought over two steaming cups, placing one in front of her and settling in across the table.

“What exactly did Jaime tell you about me?” She held the mug gently, breathing in the rich aroma.

“You really want to know?”

“I do.”

“He told me he’d loved you in secret for years. That you were dumped by some awful man, left to raise his kid alone. That now he’s the emotional support for both of you—that without him, you wouldn’t be able to cope.”

Romina let out a laugh, unable to hold it in.

The sound made Carly shift uncomfortably in her seat.

“That’s not the truth, is it?”

Carly had already started doubting Jaime’s version of the story.

“You want the real story?”

“Please.”

Romina’s smile disappeared. Her expression grew calm and serious.

“Zeke is a good man. He made mistakes, and he’s owned up to them. He and I are in love. Jaime? He was a classmate of my brother’s. Years ago, my mom tried to force me into a blind date with him. That was all.”

“So Jaime’s the one who never moved on?”

Romina nodded slowly, sipping her coffee. “Since Zeke was incarcerated, Jaime’s popped up here and there. Honestly, he’s already starting to wear thin on my nerves.”

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: ⲅⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧸ⅽ𝗼𝗺

“Why didn’t you call the authorities?”

“I was scared. He knows about Zeke’s past. I’ve kept that from my parents. I was terrified he’d expose us.”

Carly’s face turned crimson with guilt. Her eyes dropped. “I’m sorry.”

“I already figured you were the one who tipped off my family. Jaime likely nudged you, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so.”

Romina didn’t look angry—just calm. “Are you romantically involved with him?”

“Yes.”

“Even after turning you down, he keeps you on a string?”

“I think he does.”

Carly recalled how Jaime had rejected her—three separate times. Yet whenever she invited him to dinner or for a drink, he never declined.

She had flirted with him, even gotten touchy when tipsy, and he never once pushed her away. They weren’t official, but there was always an undertone of something more.

“So while leading you on, he’s also trying to win me over. Now that he’s managed to secure a spot as partner at your father’s firm, he’s using you. He had you stir things up with my family so they’d pressure me to walk away from Zeke. Do you understand how you were used?” Romina explained patiently, making everything clear.

Carly’s eyes filled with tears, her pride bruised by the truth.

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