Antonio felt a wrench in his belly, a wild pounding of his heart even worse than when he’d heard about Tanaka’s visit. She knew. This rocked the walls around his heart, the radioactive place he’d spent a lifetime being careful not to go. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But you don’t have to be afraid. Not anymore.” Rising to her feet, Hana came closer. Her eyes gleamed, her curvy pregnant body swaying as she approached. “I know the reason you were left on those church steps the day you were born.”
“Stop,” he said helplessly.
“Your mother’s name is Josune Loiola. Here is her address. Her phone number.” Hana held out a piece of paper. “Please go talk to her.”
“No!” Ignoring the paper, he shook his head violently. “I don’t want to know!”
“You have to hurry. There’s not much time left. Your mother’s sick. Dying...”
“I don’t care.”
“Only because you don’t know what happened!”
“I know enough.”
“You have to forgive her. So you can forgive yourself.”
“Me?” Antonio looked at her incredulously. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Exactly. But you still can’t move past it. And you must.” Putting her hand on her pregnant belly, she murmured, “We need you.”
“And this is how you try to help me?” Antonio said wildly. “By going behind my back, betraying me?”
“It’s not a betrayal.” When he still didn’t move, she set the paper gently down on the side table. Coming forward, she put her hand on his arm. He imagined he saw pity in her eyes. “
If you won’t go see her, just listen. I’ll tell you...”
Antonio yanked his arm away. “Stop it. Now. Or...”
“Or what?” As Hana stood apart from him, her lovely face suddenly looked sad. “Or you’ll leave me again?”
“Yes.”
He saw the exact moment hope died in her eyes.
Hana took a deep breath. “Don’t bother.”
Turning toward the door, she picked up a small overnight bag, the one she’d brought from Tokyo six months before. He frowned. “Where are you going?”
“To Tokyo,” Hana said. “Ren’s proposing to Emika at a big party tomorrow. If I leave right now, I can be there.” She looked back at him. “With friends who actually want me to be part of their lives.” She looked around the master bedroom where they’d spent so many passionate nights. “I thought this could be my home. But home isn’t a place. It’s people who love you.”
Antonio stared at her. Outside the wrought-iron balcony, the lowering gray clouds rattled the lead windows with rain.
The bedroom seemed to whirl in front of his eyes as he looked at his wife holding the bag. Fear twisted through him. Anguish. Anger. He clung to the last emotion, the only one he knew how to deal with.
“You can’t leave,” he ground out. “You’re my wife. Carrying my child.”
“And yet you made it clear if I ever spoke about love again, our marriage was over.”
Antonio narrowed his eyes. “Is this because I changed my mind about giving you half my company?”
“It hurt when you went back on your promise.” She gave him a wistful smile. “Sharing the company was like sharing you.”
Antonio’s heart hammered against his ribs.
“But I was dreaming.” Hana turned away. “I’m going to have my baby in Tokyo. I already booked myself on the evening flight. That, at least, is part of the post-nup I remember.” She gave a smile. “Unlimited flights on CrossWorld Airways for the rest of my life.”