CHAPTER 5

The restaurant buzzed with gentle chatter and glass clinking, creating an exquisite yet energetic ambience. Miguel and Tania sat at a table in the centre of the room, enjoying their dinner. Or, at least, Tania was attempting to.

 Miguel had been in a bad mood all evening, and Tania was becoming increasingly agitated.

 She tapped her fork against her plate and looked at him suspiciously. "Miguel, are you even listening to me?" Tania enquired, her voice harsh. Miguel blinked and shook his head, trying to focus.

 “Sorry, what did you say?" Tania opened her mouth to answer, but her words fell silent as she followed Miguel's gaze.

 Across the restaurant, Ximena entered, her presence impossible to ignore.

 Ximena carried herself with grace and confidence, wearing a sleek black gown that shimmered in the soft lighting.

 Heads turned as she walked to a table near the corner, her assistant trailing behind her.

 Tania narrowed her eyes, her jealousy escalating. “Of course, it’s her,” she muttered under her breath.

 Miguel didn’t respond. His eyes were glued to Ximena as if nothing else in the room existed. Her laughter rang out softly as she greeted a waiter, her smile dazzling.

 “Miguel,” Tania hissed, her voice low but dangerous. “Stop staring at her.”

 Miguel tore his eyes away reluctantly. “I wasn’t staring,” he said quickly, but the heat rising to his cheeks betrayed him.

 Tania smashed her wine glass on the table, sending the liquid sloshing dangerously close to the edge. "Do not lie to me.

 “You've been staring at her since she walked in." Miguel sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You are imagining things. Let us just finish our supper.”

 But Tania wasn't going to let it go. Her rage erupted as she grabbed her glass of wine, her gaze fixed on Ximena.

 "I'm not going to sit here while she prances around like she owns the place," Tania exclaimed, her voice quivering with wrath. Miguel's eyes widened in alarm.

 "Tania, don't—"

 Unfortunately, it was too late. Tania had already left her seat, heading across the restaurant with her glass of wine in hand.

 Ximena was oblivious to the events developing behind her, as she reviewed notes on her phone. She scarcely glanced up as Tania reached her table.

 "Ximena!" Tania's voice rang out loudly enough to get the attention of adjacent diners. Ximena looked up, shocked. Her look soon changed to one of calm composure as she noticed her sister standing in front of her, wine glass in hand, and rage in her eyes.

 “Tania," Ximena responded calmly. "What a… surprise." Tania pulled her lips into a wicked smile.

 "Oh, I am sure you were startled. Sitting here, all pompous and acting like you're superior to everyone else." Ximena lifted an eyebrow with an even tone.

 "I do not recall inviting you to my table. "If you have anything to say, say it and leave."

 Tania's voice raised, attracting even more attention. "Do you think you're perfect? Walking around in your fine clothing and security, appearing to be this powerful entrepreneur. But we all know you're a desperate little slut!"

 Gasps erupted from nearby tables, and Ximena's assistant came forward, but Ximena held up a hand to prevent her.

  "Tania," Ximena murmured, her voice calm yet sharp. "Your theatrics are not appropriate for this setting. Feel free to embarrass yourself. But don't imagine for a second that your remarks will influence me."

 Tania's palm trembled as she tightened her grip on the wine glass, apparently intending to fling its contents at Ximena. But before she could react, a solid hand gripped her arm.

 "Tania, that's enough," Miguel remarked, his voice low but strong. He drew her back with enough force to make her stagger slightly.

 “Let go of me, Miguel!" Tania spat, but he didn't back down.

 "We are leaving. "Now," Miguel replied forcefully, leading her to the exit. In the car, the silence seemed oppressive.

 Tania sat seething in the passenger seat, while Miguel grabbed the steering wheel with white knuckles.

 Finally, Tania burst. "What the hell was that, Miguel? Why did you stop me?"

 Miguel sighed, his voice weary. "Because you were creating a scene, Tania." Do you know how embarrassing it was?”

 Tania turned her head towards him, her eyes burning.

 "Embarrassing? For whom, Miguel? Me? Or you? Or was it embarrassing because your beloved Ximena witnessed it?" Miguel's jaws constricted.

 "This isn't about Ximena."

  "Oh, don't you dare!" Tania shouted, her voice trembling from rage. "You can't sit there and pretend this isn't about her. You've been obsessed with her since the moment she stepped into that restaurant!"

 Miguel cast a short glance at her before returning his attention to the road. "You're being ridiculous."

 "Ridiculous?" Tania laughed angrily. "I am not blind, Miguel. I noticed how you looked at her. You couldn't take your gaze away from her, so don't even try to deny it!"

 Miguel curled his fists around the driving wheel, keeping his voice low. “What do you want me to say, Tania? Did she catch my attention? Fine. She did. But that means nothing."

 Tania's face twisted with pain and hatred. "Doesn't that mean something? Are you listening to yourself? Miguel, you divorced her because of me. Me! And now you're confessing that you're still attracted to her?”

 Miguel breathed deeply, the weight of her words bearing down on him. "Tania, I did not say that. I only mentioned she drew my interest. She is different today. She's…"

 "She's what?" Tania interrupted, her voice rising. "Better than me? Prettier? Smarter? Say something, Miguel!"

 "No!" Miguel snapped, his irritation reaching a boiling point. "You are aware that I did not say anything like that. Stop putting words into my mouth!"

 Tania's lip quivered, but her rage persisted. "You might not have spoken it, Miguel, but you're thinking it. I see it in your eyes. You regret leaving her."

 The automobile came to a standstill as Miguel pulled over to the side of the road, unable to concentrate on driving any longer. He turned to Tania, his face twisted with rage.

 "Tania, listen to me," he continued, his tone harsh.

 "What occurred tonight was not about Ximena, you, or myself. It was about your incapacity to maintain self-control. You went over there to embarrass her and make yourself feel better. That is not who I am or who I want to be with."

 Tania recoiled as if smacked. Her voice softened, but her words remained venomous. "So, Miguel, what are you saying? That I am the problem?” Miguel sighed and leaned his head back on the seat.

  "I'm saying that this… this jealousy, this bitterness—it's going to destroy us if you don't let it go."

 Tania glanced at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "You have already destroyed us, Miguel. You destroyed us the moment you started looking at her like that." With this, she unlocked the door and stormed out of the car.