Chapter 3
Suddenly, a phone rang, breaking the silence. Nestor glanced down at the screen, and his expression instantly softened. He answered, and Josephine’s sweet, playful voice echoed through the room.
“Honey, is the soup ready yet? I’m starving.”–2
Nestor’s tone turned gentle. “Almost, sweetheart. I’ll bring it over in just a minute. Be patient for me, okay?“?
Because Daphne stood so close, she could hear Josephine’s delicate, teasing voice–half complaining, half flirting.
“This is all your fault. We’ve been married for ages, but you’re still so excitable. You got so worked up that night, you actually hurt me–like some clumsy teenage boy. Anyone who didn’t know better would think it was your first time…”
Daphne froze, her body tensing at Josephine’s words.
A sharp, secret ache stabbed at her heart, laced with a bitter edge. For Nestor and Josephine, wasn’t it their first time together?? She stood off to the side, silent, but her thoughts drifted back into the past.
Five years of marriage–Nestor had treated her with utmost care; she’d wanted for nothing. Yet, when it came to intimacy, he was always distant, mechanical, as if it were just another chore to cross off his list. She’d chalked it up to his personality–detached, always composed. She’d never seen him lose control or show any real passion.
If not for the events that led him to become “Leonardo,” she would never have realized that, in the arms of the woman he truly loved, Nestor could be so swept away he’d lose all restraint.”
By the time Daphne returned to herself, Nestor had already hung up and disappeared into the kitchen to make Josephine’s soup. Watching him refuse the maid’s help and insist on making it himself, Daphne let out a self–deprecating laugh. She turned and quietly left the room.
For the next several days, Daphne remained locked away in her room, waiting for the paperwork to go through on the island she’d bought–her ticket to escape the Bridges family as soon as possible.!
That is, until Josephine was discharged from the hospital and came chirping at her door.
“Sis, my husband’s got a race today! Come with us and watch. I know you’re still hurting after Nestor’s accident, but if you keep hiding away like this, you’ll make yourself ill.”
The two Bridges brothers were both golden boys in their own right. Nestor, cool–headed and dependable, had inherited the family business as CEO. Leonardo, on the other hand, was a wild spirit–the only F1 driver from their country on the international circuit. Their personalities couldn’t have been more different.”
Daphne hadn’t intended to go, but curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to see how Nestor–who’d never so much as touched a race car before–would handle himself. So she agreed to come along.”
At the racetrack, Josephine hurried off to find Nestor, leaving Daphne to wander. As she meandered through the bustling crowd, a voice rang out nearby. ‘Are you out of your mind? You’d risk your life just to stay by Josephine’s side? You actually tampered with the brakes?!”
The familiar name stopped Daphne in her tracks. She recognized the voice–it was one of Nestor’s brothers. The last time she’d overheard them talking, she’d stumbled upon a truth that had blown her world apart. And now, fate had brought her to overhear them again.
“I don’t even know how to drive a race car,” came Nestor’s voice, tight with frustration. “If I hadn’t messed with the brakes, my cover would’ve been blown.“!
You might keep the secret for a while, but not forever, Nestor! I know you love Josephine, but she’s your brother’s wife. And you have Daphne–she’s cried herself sick over you these past weeks. I just saw her–she looks like she’s barely holding on. You and Daphne have been married five years. Don’t tell me you feel nothing for her Everyone says to cherish the one who’s right in front of you. Let Josephine go.“>>
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
At last, Nestor’s voice broke through. “Give me three more years. Just three. Let me live this dream a little longer. After that, I’ll go back to Daphné.” Daphne almost laughed aloud.
Nestor, you don’t have to come back. I’ll be gone by then.
From this day forward, you can play “Leonardo” for as long as you like.
She smiled, turned, and walked away, heading toward the stands.
Shed barely taken her seat when a wave of cheers swept through the stadium. The racers, Nestor among them, began to enter, one after another. When Nestor’s name was announced, the applause was deafening.
Josephine slid into the seat beside Daphne, eyes fixed on the track, but her words aimed straight at her
“Don’t let Nestor’s accident drag you down forever, sis. You need to get out more.”
She paused, then added, her tone almost cheerful, it’s funny, isn’t it? Both our husbands were on the same yacht that day. Yours died, mine survived. I know you’ve been devastated, but some things are just fate. You’ve always had worse luck than me, that’s all. So you should really focus on moving forward.”
The words knocked the breath from Daphne’s lungs, her face went ghostly pale
She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, a thunderous crash split the air, followed by a chorus of panicked screams.!!
“Mr. Bridgest
