Chapter 21

Alonso ordered his men to kick Claudio out of the restaurant. They were in Pendalith, his home turf. And he wasn't about to give anyone the chance to hurt Carmen. Naturally, Claudio wasn't willing to give up. If Carmen refused to see him, he would make a show of his love across the city, much like the way he had won her heart all those years ago. This time, Carmen didn't feel moved. She knew her "secret" would be exposed if this kept up. So, she decided she would step forward and do the right thing. Before long, she called for a press conference and told the public the truth about everything. Carmen recounted how she had gotten married to Claudio and how her dream had been abruptly ruined when Rosalia chopped her right hand off. She also told the reporters how shocked she had been when she found out he felt so grateful toward Rosalia that he married her and kept it a secret from everyone, including her. Carmen stuck her hand out, pulled up her sleeve, and revealed the scars he