Prologue

EMILY

I was leaving, never to return! I was done looking at people who pretended to be my friends while knowing that Marcos was just toying with me. That’s what he wanted, so that’s what he’d get! My biggest regret was letting myself fall for his smooth talk and those beautiful green eyes, giving myself to that jerk! That damn bastard.

I gave myself to him, body and soul. My last few years were all about him, and now here I was, the fool, the other woman. In fact, according to him, he never stopped seeing a sea of girls—there was always someone else in his arms besides me.

I felt sorry for Bianca, who had to put up with that creep as her brother. I didn’t say goodbye to her or to Bete. My best friends wouldn’t know I was fleeing the town in the middle of the night.

I packed my bags while crying with rage for having fallen in love with Marcos Almeida! I don’t even know what I was thinking when I started getting involved with him.

“Are you ready, sweetheart?” my mother asked, watching me from the doorway. I know she doesn’t approve of me leaving one bit—her worried expression says it all. My father even less so, but they let me decide.

“I’m ready!” I growled, so she wouldn’t notice I’d been crying. I dragged my suitcase downstairs without letting her help. I had to be strong now, and I knew if I looked into her eyes, I’d give up on everything and stay.

“You know you can come back anytime, right?” she said as I loaded my things into the taxi. I didn’t let my dad drive me; he’d definitely try to convince me to stay. I just gave them a hug and got into the car. In their eyes, I could see they believed I’d be back in a matter of weeks, but that wasn’t going to happen. I’d never return to São Fernando again!

MARCOS

I was letting her go! I had pushed Emily out of my life in the worst way possible, breaking her heart. But that was the only way—it was my only guarantee that she’d leave without looking back, without wanting to come back to me.

Making my girl hate me was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. Seeing the tears streaming down her face as I belittled her like she was just some nobody destroyed me.

“Yeah, it was all a lie. I wanted to get you into bed, and I did. You shouldn’t be so mad—you loved every second we spent together. You would’ve given yourself to me sooner if I hadn’t insisted we wait.”

Goddamn, I was the dirtiest son of a bitch for this. I brought her to me, let her fall in love, took her innocence, and now I was ripping her heart out.

My suffering was a small punishment for everything I deserved after this. Living with the knowledge that she’d be happier without me was a light burden to carry.

But as long as Emy was happy and safe, I could live with it.