💎 Angel💎The drive was long—long enough that my back ached from sitting so long, but the moment we arrived, I had to admit: it was worth every second.A modern, wooden cabin stood like something out of a travel magazine—clean lines, wide windows, and the kind of cozy luxury only the D'Amanos could pull off so effortlessly.Despite the sandals on my feet, I could feel the heat of the sand radiating up through the soles.Tall palm and coconut trees swayed gently with the wind, framing a breathtaking view of the rolling waves. It almost felt like we had arrived on a private island."Aunt, can I get down?" Nikki asked from my arms, her eyes wide with excitement.I shook my head gently. "No sweetie, the sand's really hot. I'm sure you don't want to burn those tiny feet, do you?"She quickly shook her head and clutched me tighter.Raul was already helping to unload the bags as we stepped inside the cabin. The interior was just as stunning as the outside—luxurious but still warm and inviti
She scoffed. "Please. As far as I'm concerned, Raul isn't married. Catalina doesn't count.""Mia..." Raul started, but she cut him off."So tell me, are you his girlfriend?""Yes, she is," Raul answered firmly.Mia squealed, clapping her hands like she'd just unwrapped a long-awaited gift."Finally! It's about time you brought a real woman home, hermano!"Without warning, she pulled me into a tight hug, practically squishing me against her curves. I laughed, returning the hug."So when's the wedding?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement."Mia, relax. There's no wedding yet. Not until Catalina signs the divorce papers," Raul said, pulling her back with a sigh.Mia frowned. "Since when do you care about rules, D'Amano?""It's not about rules. It's about respect. I want to end that chapter before I start this one—with Angel."He turned and winked at me, sending a rush of warmth to my cheeks as butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach.Mia arched a brow and wiggled it playfull
💎 Angel 💎 "Angel, please come here," Raul called from the closet, his voice carrying that casual authority I'd grown used to. I responded immediately, stepping into the room to find him holding two vintage shirts, eyeing them with a contemplative frown. "What is it?" I asked. He looked up, biting his bottom lip as he held both shirts out for me to judge. One was a light blue with a complex geometric print, the other—white, with a bold black petal stretching over one side. I glanced down at the white shorts he already had on and smiled to myself. "The white one," I said, reaching for it. "It suits you—and the weather." He smiled, slow and satisfied. "Thank you, tesoro." As he got dressed, I turned to pack our things—making sure our towels, robes, extra clothes, spare footwear, and sunscreen were intact. Then I changed into a floral white summer dress that grazed my thighs, and paired it with matching white slippers. I tied my curls into a high bun, securing it wit
💮Angel's POV💮"Tesoro."He grabbed me before I could fully step into the room, his grip firm, his voice rough with tension.I kept my head low, lips pressed tightly together. I couldn't meet his eyes."I—I'm sorry, Raul. B-but I have to leave," I whispered, my voice almost cracking.His entire body stiffened. "What do you mean leave, Angel?" he snapped, his fingers curling around my arms, forcing me to face him."I just... I see how much you love your mom. And I don't want to ruin that," I said, trembling slightly. "If she can't accept us—then I'm sorry. I'll go. But just know I love you so much."I nudged past him, heading straight for the closet, trying to keep my composure intact."Angel." His voice followed me—sharp, demanding, wounded. "Please speak clearly. What happened between you and mamá? What did she say?""It doesn't matter, Raul. I'll leave, okay?" I pulled my suitcase from the closet, but before I could lift it, he snatched it from me and flung it into the corner of t
"I met Russell D'Amano in a spa," she said softly, her voice almost carried away by the breeze."I worked there as a masseuse. The day my boss introduced him as my client, I remember thinking—'Damn, how can a man look that ravishing?'"I blinked, surprised by her candor."The memory of how he looked at me that day... it's still so fresh. That was the day everything changed for me."She smiled wistfully, but her eyes were clouded, as if reliving the moment."I was captivated, Angel. By his gray eyes, the strength in his silence, his commanding aura. He didn't wear a ring, so I thought—maybe, just maybe, he was single. Never crossed my mind that a man like that could already belong to someone."I didn't speak. I just listened, caught somewhere between shock and fascination."I tried to stay professional while massaging him, but... it was my first time touching a man like that. Hell, it was my first time touching any man. My palms were sweating. My heart was racing. And still, I couldn't
💮Angel💮Even her cooking was divine. I didn't know the names of the dishes I was eating, but each bite was a burst of flavor."Wow, your food is delicious," Luca complimented, his voice full of genuine admiration.She smiled, a soft blush coloring her cheeks."Thank you, son," she replied warmly. "I love making these dishes, and I've had years of practice."Luca's eyes sparked with curiosity. "Why's that?"She glanced at Raul with a playful wink."Because Raul loves them, so I've made them a hundred times over."Raul kept his gaze on his plate, but sitting close to him, I noticed the faint flush creeping up his neck.Their easy closeness stirred a pang of envy in me.I wished my mom could be like this. I wished she wasn't so hypocritical, so quick to judge.Our last fight had ripped open a truth I'd been avoiding: I didn't love her because she was my mother. I loved her out of pity, out of a need to please her, out of a sense that I owed her my life.Yes, she raised us, worked hard