Chapter 23

Cecilia I hit the floor hard, feeling the cold marble against my palms. The pain was sharp but distant compared to the turmoil in the room. Xavier hadn't even recovered from the shock of my demand for divorce when Cici's next words froze everyone in the ballroom. "Xavier, she's filthy now!" Cici screamed, her perfect makeup cracking under her rage. "Last night she slept with eight men! One of them even has AIDS! She's dirty, she's ruined—she's absolutely disgusting! How could you still want her?" I struggled to contain her rage as I pushed myself up from the floor, my injured wrist throbbing with each heartbeat. The entire ballroom fell into stunned silence. I could practically see the thoughts forming in everyone's minds: Eight men in one night? Someone with AIDS? Was this even possible? Then came the inevitable question that flickered across every face: How did Cici know these details so precisely? From the corner of my eye, I saw Dora sway slightly, her face draining of all color, s