Sabrina’s POV
“You really think a few empty words will erase all those lies, betrayal, and humiliation you dragged me through?” I asked, voice
ice.
He had the nerve to smile. Smile. And that was when I realized: he still didn’t get it.
“You don’t seriously expect me to forgive you and waltz back to New York after that little speech, do you?” I said, my tone sharp
as glass.
It was almost funny. Almost.
“You make me sick, Archie. God, why didn’t I see through you sooner?”
His brows drew together, confusion flickering across his face. He wasn’t used to hearing me speak in such a harsh tone before.
Not to him at least.
“What… what did you just say?” he asked, stunned.
I didn’t blink. “I said you’re fucking disgusting, Archie Valez.”
His cheeks flushed crimson, his jaw tightening with insulted rage. “I apologized, Sabrina. What more do you want from me? I
came all this way—”
Of course. Of course Archie Valez thought an apology was enough. That if he showed up looking miserable and muttered a few sorrys, I’d swoon and forgive. After all, that’s what he was used to.
The world bending around his mistakes.
I stepped closer, and his expression shifted–hope flickering in his eyes like a fool’s flame.
I raised my hand and slapped him. Hard. The crack echoed through the courtyard. His head snapped to the side, and I didn’t
flinch.
“You think because I loved you once, I’d keep forgiving you every time you said sorry?”
His eyes widened, and I didn’t let him speak.
“I loved you, Archie. I moved to New York for you. I stayed silent while you tended to your dear aunt, over and over again, because
I wanted to believe in us. I wanted to believe you were worth it.”
“But no one can keep loving a man who makes hurting her a habit.” I stepped in, my voice low and steady. “So tell me why the hell are you so sure that me, Sabrina Marcellus, would still love you, Archie Valez?”
He staggered back, physically jolted by the words, until his knees buckled and he dropped to the dirt.
1/3
77
I looked at the man I used to love–and felt nothing but disgust.
+15 Bonus
“Good job, Archie,” I said, cold and clear. “You killed her. The girl who loved you? Who dreamed of marrying you? Who would’ve given you everything. She died. Slowly. In every night you left her alone to crawl into Betty’s bed. In every day she clung to your promises while you played house with someone else.”
“She’s gone. And she’s never coming back.” I stepped back, chin lifted. “The woman in front of you now is the new Sabrina Marcellus. And I’m proud to say I’m a single mother. That’s right–single.”
“You? You’re just a man standing on my family’s land.”
Archie’s face had drained of color. His lips trembled. “But… Elly…” His voice broke, like even he knew he didn’t deserve to say her
name.
“She’s mine,” I said. “And from now on, her name will be Elly Marcellus. She’ll have me. Maybe one day a new father. Or maybe not. That’s my choice. But whatever the future holds, it has nothing to do with you. Do you hear me?”
Archie left. I had the guards to pull out the gun and pointed at him.
Archie was afraid of death. So he left.
He didn’t even look back. He stumbled away, bruised and broken, disappearing down the road like a bad dream fading with the morning light.
Later, I asked Elly, gently, “Do you blame Mommy for not letting you say goodbye?”
