?Chapter 950:


    She let herself in and got to work in the kitchen. In half an hour, she had prepared a meal—four dishes and a soup.


    But Julio, who was usually home by now, was nowhere to be seen. The food on the table grew cold as Dalores waited.


    She thought maybe he had a work dinner or something. She ced the food in the fridge, deciding she would take it to the hospital tomorrow so it wouldn’t go to waste.


    She went upstairs, washed up, and applied a freshyer of makeup. She wasn’t one for makeup, but after Julio had looked at her differently when she wore some lipstick a few days ago, it hadn’t escaped her notice. So, she had kept up the makeup routine since then.


    It was already eleven o’clock. Dalores was just about to drift off to sleep when the bedroom door suddenly opened.


    Julio strode in, wearing a ck shirt. He yanked off his tie, tossed it aside, and started unbuttoning his shirt with a feverish haste. He stopped short when he saw Dalores in bed.


    Dalores tossed back the thin quilt and got out of bed. In the dim light, her flesh-toned nightdress made her look as if she were naked.


    Julio took in her curves, the marks he had left on her skin over the past few days—a stark reminder of hisck of control. Before, he hadn’t been with a woman in ages, and he had only been with Dalores. He lost control and then hated himself for it. It felt like Dalores had him wrapped around her little finger.


    “Have you eaten?” Dalores asked, reaching for his wrist and pulling his hand down. She began unbuttoning his shirt for him. Her makeup only made her more alluring, and Julio’s pulse quickened.


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    “Yeah,” Julio muttered, brushing her hand away. He walked past her toward the window, shrugging off his shirt.


    Dalores noticed his mood immediately. The alcohol on him suggested he had just had a business meal. She bit her lip, considering what to say next.


    “So, shower first or straight to bed?”


    Before Dalores could finish, Julio spun around, his torso bare. “What’s the rush?” he asked sarcastically. “I’m not in the mood.”


    “Are you upset?” Dalores asked softly. “Did I scratch you too hardst night? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I promise I won’t do it again.”


    Julio’s face twisted into a frown as he walked toward her. He grabbed her wrist, backing her into a corner. “Dalores, what the hell are you doing? What are you trying to get from me, or are you just ying some sick game to get my attention?”


    Every day, she would prepare a four-course meal, including soup. Then, she would shower, put on makeup, and wear skimpy outfits like it was all a performance just for him. It was starting to feel like a twisted routine. He couldn’t deny her allure, but part of him remained suspicious. Something about Dalores’ sudden change didn’t sit right.


    Dalores was caught off guard for a moment, then she spoke. “Don’t you want a kid? I can give you one. I was wrong before; I shouldn’t have said those things and treated you that way. Let’s have a baby, Julio. Please, let me make it up to you.”


    Her voice broke as she looked down, trying to hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes.


    She regretted saying she had an abortion. Now that Emerson was sick, she was convinced it was her fault. How she wished she could take it back! She would do anything to undo her mistake.


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