73. Crossroads of Desire

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