💎Angel💎With trembling fingers, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside.No shattered glass. No blood. I let out a shaky breath of relief and looked around."Raul?" I called softly, checking the bathroom.Nothing.The balcony door was ajar, the curtains swaying with the night breeze. I stepped outside and found him standing there, elbows resting on the railing, his eyes fixed on the dark sky.A silhouette carved out of grief and silence.I walked up to him and gently placed my palm on the tense muscle of his arm. He didn't flinch. Didn't move. Just stared."I won't pretend to understand exactly how you feel, Raul... because I don't," I said quietly."But I know it's hard—seeing him, remembering everything. Still... please, don't let the anger consume you. Don't let hate make a home inside you. It'll steal your peace, no matter how hard you try to be happy."A tear rolled down my cheek. "And I want you to be happy, Raul. Our baby wants her papa to be happy too. Won't you try... f
The guests had left, leaving us to nibble on leftover cake and drinks in the backyard's soft glow.Raul, the possessive freak, wouldn't let me touch the wine or have more than a single slice of cake, citing my pregnancy."Mamá, did you enjoy your birthday?" Raul asked gently."Did you like all your gifts? Is there anything else you want?"The three of us—Mamá, Raul, and I—were seated slightly apart from the other family members, enjoying the quiet of the night.Jasira's smile faltered. "I loved it, son, but... I'm still missing the most important gift." Her voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with longing.Raul's brow furrowed, worry etching his face.He lifted her chin gently. "What is it, Mamá? Tell me, and I'll get it for you."She shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. "You can't give me what I want, Raul.""Mamá..." he exhaled deeply, his voice thick."I promise, Mamá. Whatever it is, if it's within my power—I'll do it."She snapped her gaze to him, eyes blazing through h
💎Angel💎"This will look lovely on you," Raul said, holding up a pink floral shirt dress.I eyed it with mild contemplation."Alright," I agreed, too tired to look for anything else.Once I was dressed, I stood in front of the mirror and couldn't deny how good it looked on me.I let my curls down, added a touch of gloss to my lips, and headed out of the closet. I made sure to fill Astra's bowls with fresh water and food before slipping on a pair of white sandals.Raul and I walked downstairs together."Auntie!" Nikki screamed and ran into my arms.I smiled and scooped her up, peppering kisses on her neck, making her giggle uncontrollably."How's my favorite girl?" I asked.She flashed a toothy grin. "I had fun today, Auntie, but I wanted to play with you. Where were you?" Her pout was impossibly cute."I'm sorry, baby girl. I had something important to do, but I promise we'll play next time, okay?" She nodded, her smile returning."Angel!" Mia rushed over, pulling me into a warm hug.
We reached the nurse's station a few seconds later.A young nurse with sleek dark hair tied into a bun and a soft pink uniform approached us.Her eyes flicked between me and Raul, her expression warm but cautious."Good afternoon. How can I help you?" she asked politely.Raul didn't waste a second. "Any available doctor? I want to see them now."His voice was clipped—cold enough to make the air tense.The nurse opened her mouth, perhaps to explain protocol or ask more questions, but one look at Raul's steely glare had her lips sealing shut.She smiled tightly instead. "Please, follow me."As we walked behind her down the hallway, I elbowed him gently in the ribs. "You didn't have to be mean," I muttered, narrowing my eyes at him.He didn't respond—just kept his icy gaze ahead, jaw tight, hand never leaving mine.We stopped in front of a wooden door with a silver nameplate. The nurse turned to us, her smile softening."Doctor Helena will see you now." She opened the door wide."Thank y
💎Angel💎"She said all that?" Dad asked, his voice thick with surprise as I recounted Mom's harsh words from our fight."She's really something else," he murmured.I sighed, nodding in agreement."Where's Sarah?" I asked, curious about his new life."She took your stepsister to visit her grandparents," he explained."What's her name?""Sierra." His face lit up as he spoke about her."Does she know about me and Luca?"He smiled widely and nodded."Yes, Princess. Sarah can't have another child, and Sierra always wished for a sibling. There was no way we could explain why Sarah couldn't give her one, so we told her the truth—that she has two older siblings. She's excited to meet you both. Would you like to meet her?" he asked, a bit unsure."Of course, Dad. She's my sister." His smile widened, and he pulled me into a warm hug."We should go, Dad. I need to help with Jasira's birthday party."He nodded and we both rose to our feet."I see how much you love Raul and his family," he said s
We left the mall in silence. The entire car ride was awkward and quiet—neither of us said a word.When we pulled up to the pet store, I didn't wait for him to open the door for me—I got out on my own.The man at the entrance greeted us warmly and held the door open. As we stepped in, the sound of meowing cats made me unconsciously inch closer to Raul's side. I've always been terrified of those creatures."How can I help you, sir?" a teenage girl with blonde hair tied in a ponytail and wide gray eyes approached us."Where are the puppies?" Raul asked.She smiled and led us to a section filled with small cages, each housing different dog breeds."Do you have a specific breed in mind?" she asked politely."Yes. The Maltese."She nodded and guided us to a cream-colored sofa tucked in the corner. We sat, and she soon returned carrying two cages, each packed with squirming, yipping Maltese pups of different colors.She went back to bring more, and Raul asked her to let them out.As soon as