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    Chapter 0611


    Nina


    "I can''t lie to you any longer. I''ll tell you everything, Nina."


    As Enzo spoke, I felt abination of dread and relief take over me. I didn''t want to believe that my husband might have cheated on me, but the signs all pointed to it. And yet, something told me to hear him out, because maybe he was right; maybe this wasn''t what I thought it was after all.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    "Okay," I said softly. Together, with our towels still on, we made our way out of the steamy bathroom and into the bedroom. The air was much cooler in there, and both of us quickly and silently dried ourselves off. I slipped into my plush robe, and Enzo pulled on his pajama pants before he sat on the edge of the bed.


    Without a word, Enzo held his hand out for me. I took it cautiously, feeling how his fingers wrapped firmly around mine, and sat down beside him.


    "I''m listening," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.


    He nodded, then took a deep breath and began to speak.


    *It all started yesterday, the day before I came home to you," he began. "M needed help setting up some heavy medical equipment for the physical exams. I didn''t really want to, but she insisted that she needed my help, so agreed."


    I furrowed my brow as he spoke, but I said nothing. However, I couldn''t entirely deny the thoughts that popped up into my mind: Enzo and M, bent over a treadmill, doing things that they shouldn''t have.


    But I managed to push those images away and focus instead on Enzo''s story.


    *As I was helping her, though, she started asking me to test out the treadmill for her," Enzo continued. "Again, I said no at first, but she begged me, Nina."


    "So you agreed again?" I asked, swallowing.


    Enzo nodded with regret in his eyes. "Maybe that was where it began. Maybe she got the wrong idea. She started saying weird things and putting her hands on me.."


    As he spoke, my heart began to pound harder than ever. The thought of M putting her hands on my husband made me almost sick. I tried to pull my hand away, but Enzo held onto me fast, his eyes glinting with determination.


    *Nothing happened, Nina," he insisted. "I was just about to push her away, and then Tim came in and that thankfully defused the situation. But then he asked if I would go out for drinks with the team before I left, and I said yes. That was my second mistake."


    *Second mistake?" I asked, my voice shaking now.


    He nodded again. "Everything was going fine until I went to the bathroom to call you, and when I came out, she had ordered me a drink," he said. "And Nina... I think she tried to drug me. The drug had very little effect on me, and I didn''t drink all of it. But I knew that something was off."


    My eyes widened in shock. "She tried to drug you?!" I eximed, unable to conceal my anger and disbelief.


    Enzo nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yes," he murmured. "I left as soon as I noticed. I figured that was the end of it, and that I woulde home and not have to hear from her anymore. Hell, I... I figured I could just let it go, ignore it, and she''d eventually give up."


    By now, my heart was practically beating out of my chest. "Enzo, you should have told somebody," I whispered." You should have at least told me."


    He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I was worried about my career," he murmured. "I figured that no one would believe me; that they''d take her side over mine."


    There was a long pause as I tried to gather my frantic thoughts. But then, Enzo continued. "But that''s not all, Nina," he said. "The next day, she showed up to the hotel saying that Tim sent her to drive me to the airport. Sheered me and... she kissed me."


    I felt like I was going to throw up. My body felt frozen, as though I was paralyzed. All I could do was blink incredulously; suddenly, the lipstick made sense.


    "Obviously it was against my will, Nina," he reassured me before I could muster up the strength to say anything." And I pushed her away immediately. But I guess I went too hard; I forgot my own strength. She started to bleed."


    My first instinct was to be angry, but as I looked into Enzo''s eyes, I could see the pain there. He was being sincere; I knew he would never cheat on me.


    "But the bruise..." I whispered, shaking my head. "How?"


    *She grabbed my wrist and threatened me, Nina," he exined, his voice barely more than a whisper as he stared down at the spot where the bruise had been.


    "She told me that if I said a thing to anyone, she would ruin me. She''d... say that I assaulted her, and she''d use the cut on her head as proof. And, Nina, the strength she possessed-it was incredible. It took me by surprise. I''m not sure if she''s human. And I''m not sure what she''s capable of."


    As he spoke, I felt my heart begin to ache for him. This was a tricky situation for anyone to be in, and I understood why he was hesitant about talking about it.


    But then there was the issue of whether she was human or not. That, I could not exin. I began to wonder if maybe it was just that Enzo was taken by surprise at that moment, and maybe he had apse in strength. But I wouldn''t say that.


    "Enzo, I''m... I''m so sorry," I whispered. "But you know you could have told me immediately instead of trying to hide it."


    Enzo looked at me, and his eyes were filled with shame. "I didn''t know what else to do, Nina," he said. "Not only could it affect my career, but it''s also... embarrassing."


    "Embarrassing?" I whispered.


    He nodded solemnly. "I''m a man, Nina," he muttered. "And I let a woman take advantage of me. Hell, I let her bruise my wrist. I feel like a failure."


    "Enzo," I said, shaking my head, "you''re not a failure. Men get sexually assaulted all of the time. You don''t need to be ashamed, especially not around me."


    He looked taken aback by my words, as if he hadn''t expected that.


    *This is not your burden to bear alone," I insisted. "You don''t have to suffer in silence. If you''re working in an unsafe environment that''s making you ufortable, you should tell someone."


    Enzo stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be wrestling with his own internal thoughts, trying toe to terms with the idea that he didn''t have to face this situation on his own.


    "I need to get some fresh air," he finally said, his voice filled with a heavy weariness. "I just need some time to clear my head."


    I nodded and watched as he stood, grabbing a sweatshirt off of the bed and pulling it on. And then, without so much as a nce back, he slipped out of the room and disappeared.