Marissa had pleaded with Efrain to accompany him to the town, a request he couldn't refuse. Now, they were inside the police station, with Marissa waiting outside alongside Eulalio.Meanwhile, inside Manuel's office, the mysterious woman, now known to Marissa as Efrain's Aunt Anna, was seated with Efrain, Manuel and Valentina. "Did you truly take Camila's life?" Efrain asked, his eyes searching hers.Anna looked directly at him as she nodded, feeling the burden of her confession weighing heavily on her heart. "Yes, I planned it, even though I wasn't certain," the words spilled from her lips "I'm sorry, my dear children. But your mother... she did worse things, things that haunted me for years." Anna's hand shook as she reached up to touch the burn mark on her face, a constant reminder of the painful past that wouldn't fade away. "Even this scar, bears witness to the pain she inflicted."Valentina gently squeezed Anna's hand, her eyes brimming with empathy. "I understand, Aunt Ann," s
Efrain exited the luxurious mansion, feeling a wave of relief as he joined Marissa in the waiting car. Her concern was evident as she asked, "How is she?""She'll be okay," Efrain assured, "she's finally ready to let go of the burden she's been carrying for so long. She's going to talk to Hernan, maybe even think about moving him to a care facility." "Where are we headed now?" Marissa asked, curious, as Efrain got behind the wheel."We're going to my father's cherished retreat," Efrain replied. "Valentina entrusted me with the keys, so let's go on," he said, starting the engine and driving off. Marissa looked at him, a soft smile spreading across her face, feeling a warmth in her heart. In that moment, she realized how happy she was with him beside her. She couldn't imagine him being away, even for a day."Why the intense look?" Efrain questioned, raising an eyebrow as Marissa continued to gaze at him. "Is there something on my face?"Marissa just nodded, a mischievous glimmer shinin
In the early morning, sunlight seeped into the cottage, waking Efrain. He glanced at Marissa, still asleep beside him, wrapped in blankets. The fireplace crackled, casting a warm light on them both.As Efrain tried to get up, Marissa gripped his hand tighter, silently asking him to stay. "Just a little longer," she whispered, her eyes shut in the peaceful haze of half-awake bliss."But we have to head back to town today," Efrain reminded her."Just five more minutes," Marissa pleaded, pulling him closer with a playful tug, her heart longing for a bit more time in their secluded haven.Efrain's laughter echoed in the air, blending with Marissa's playful insistence. With a soft sigh, he gave in to her charm, settling back beside her as she snuggled his hand against her waist.They slipped back into sleep, lost in dreams and the comfort of each other's company. It wasn't until two peaceful hours later that they reluctantly woke, pulling away from their cozy nest to prepare for the day.A
Marissa sat by herself in her room, worrying about Aurora being at the hacienda. Stella had told Rosairo about Aurora, and now she was with Carlos, getting to know the horses. Marissa watched Daniella look at her daughter, feeling uneasy. She worried Daniella might be a danger to Aurora and hoped Aurora would stay safe.It appeared that Juan was aware that Aurora was his daughter, prompting Marissa's instinctive urge to protect her from any possible harm.Juan entered Marissa's room with a sad expression on his face. "Marissa, can we talk?" he asked.Marissa nodded, meeting his gaze. "What do you need to say?" she asked."I want to know if she is..." Juan started, his voice fading as he struggled for the right words.Marissa's lips tightened, a flash of pain crossing her features before she interjected, "She shares your blood, but she's not your daughter. The day you chose to believe Daniella over me and threw me out of this house, you severed any bond between yourself and your daught
Marissa woke up to find Efrain still sleeping beside her. She felt a swell of pride and admiration for him, knowing how hard he had worked to solve the recent case involving a thief at a local farm. It had been a tough investigation, with thousands of money stolen before they finally caught the culprit— an employee who had been trying to save money for his sick son. The discovery that the thief's actions were driven by love and desperation touched the hearts of everyone involved, leading the employer to ultimately forgive him.Marissa stood up and walked into the shower, as she stood beneath the comforting stream, her mind swirled with thoughts of the past week. Seven days had passed, yet she still hadn't found the courage to tell Efrain about her and Juan. The fear of losing him gnawed at her heart, as she couldn't deny the growing feelings of love that blossomed within her each time she looked at him. She yearned to keep him close, to cherish him with every fiber of her being, and t
Marissa and Stella walked through the ranch, the peaceful surroundings providing a brief escape from the turmoil in Marissa's heart."So, how are things with you and Efrain?" Stella inquired. "We're... we're doing great," Marissa replied, her nod more for her own reassurance than anything else."Marissa, you need to tell him the truth before it's too late. Daniella will spill everything to him soon, especially now that Juan has made his decision about the divorce," Stella urged, her tone firm yet empathetic."I know," Marissa admitted. "And I'm terrified of losing him. And the truth is, I've started to develop feelings for him, even though deep down, I know our desires for the future don't align. Efrain was raised without the idea of a family, and I'm not ready to commit to that either. It's just... when I'm with him, I feel this pull towards something more, yet at the same time, I'm overwhelmed with confusion.""What if he wants to marry you and start a family? I know it's a long s
Marissa returned home, finding peace in the familiar comfort of Efrain's arm. Nestling herself against him, she sighed contentedly. "How was your day?" Efrain shifted his attention from the TV to her, his arms enveloping her in a warm held. "Just got back from the station, nothing eventful to report. I missed you all day, couldn't get you out of my mind," he confessed, his words a gentle caress against her ear. "I haven't even been able to concentrate on the TV."Marissa sat up, a serious expression crossing her features. "Efrain, I need to tell you something important. It's about Aurora.""What happened?" Efrain's concern was palpable.Before Marissa could respond, the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. "Can we talk later? Marcus is here with pizza," he suggested, hoping to delay the discussion until they had more privacy.Marissa watched as Efrain rose from the couch and made his way to the door, her heart heavy with the weight of the secret she carried. She longed to
Rosairo descended the staircase, her steps echoing softly in the spacious living room as she approached Juan, who sat with a sad expression. Concern etched on her features, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright, son?" she inquired."It feels like my world is crumbling, Mother," Juan confessed, "I finally mustered the courage to tell my wife that I want a divorce. I can't bear to continue living in a marriage where I'm not truly happy.""Is this because of Aurora and Marissa?" Rosairo ventured cautiously, her gaze searching his troubled expression for answers.Juan's eyes widened in disbelief at her question, the shock evident in his features."Marissa confided in me about your situation," Rosairo revealed, "when I learned about what Daniella did to her, manipulating her and making her feel guilty for a miscarriage she wasn't responsible for... Well, whatever happened, happened. Marissa seems to have found it in her heart to forgive you, even though her affections