Marissa stood in their spacious garden, surrounded by flowers. A gentle breeze traced the fence line, causing her sleek black hair to spin and her long-sleeved shirt to tug out. Tugging back her shirt into her black jeans, she smoothed a stray lock from her face, bent down, and plucked a single flower from the ground, admiring its delicate petals in the bright light. It seemed like the final glimpse of this place. "Marissa... Marissa. Let's go. Everyone is ready for us to leave," her mother, Rosario Valiente, called out. Rosario's simple blue dress blew in the same breeze that had caught her daughter's hair, almost as if the land was pleading with them to stay and not leave. Walking down the lane toward the garden, she called out once more to Marissa, "Please, come and hop into the car. We'll be leaving soon." Marissa nodded, her expression concealed. Ignacio Valiente, the second sibling, leaned against a Hyundai Palisade, puffing on a cigar. Meanwhile, Carlos, the youngest of the
With three chairs on each side of the antique ash dining table, the Valientes were seated around it. The table was full with a variety of delicacies that provided a feast for their shared supper. Miguel was seated at the head of the table, with Juan and Daniella sitting to his left, Rosario and Carlos to his right. Miguel set his cutlery on the plate and looked around, his eyes crinkling with excitement. "I can now proudly say my son has finally chosen a perfect woman to spend his life with." Daniella's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you for the compliments, Mr. Valiente," she replied with a smile. She held Juan's hand, leaning on his shoulder with adoration as she looked at Miguel. "I only speak the truth and nothing else," Miguel said. "But it still means so much to me," Daniella replied, giving Juan's hand another affectionate squeeze. "I hardly ever receive compliments." "Aren't you a model? I'm sure you get compliments all the time," Carlos remarked, taking a spoonful
"It's night already, Marissa hasn't returned home, even Ignacio's come back," Rosario whispered to herself, nervously fiddling with her fingers, walking back and forth at the mansion's entrance. When Juan came downstairs, he noticed she was upset and went over to talk to her. "Mother, I hope all is well?" "I am worried about Marissa, Juan. Since the incident, she hasn't returned home, and I can't reach her on her phone." "Mother, I will ask the workers to help me go look for her. I'm sure she will be fine," Juan reassured her, giving a tight-lipped smile as he put an arm around her. "Let's go back in. I'll go out and look for her." Rosario managed a sad smile. "I hope my princess is alright." Miguel came down the stairs and noticed Rosario's pale face. "What's wrong?" Rosario hugged him, her tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking his shirt. "Marissa hasn't returned home yet." Miguel looked at Juan. "I'm going out to look for her with some of the workers," Juan said, then he
Juan stayed close behind Marissa as she fed the horses. Some stood by the fence, wanting affection, while others ran and played, bringing a smile to Marissa's sad face. Juan took her hand and pulled her away from the fence as a gust of wind blew her dark hair. "What the hell is wrong with you?" "I am sorry about yesterday, I... my phone disappeared inside the river. I swam looking for it, but I got stuck, and then you came," she offered flatly. "Marissa, can you tell me what is wrong with you? You know I care about you," he said, corner of his mouth lifting in a slight smile. "But not the way I want you to care... You care more about Daniella." "The way I care about you is different from Daniella. You are my sister; you know I care about you a lot. I love you," he replied, cupping her cheeks. She squeezed her eyelids shut against tears. He wrapped her in his arms, pressing her face against his strong chest. Again, the smell of leather soap and horse spurs warmed her chest. "I
Upon entering Miguel's room, Marissa discovered him perched on the bed's edge, with his eyes locked on the wall with a mysterious expression that concealed his feelings. "Good morning, Father," she offered in greeting, receiving only a brief, sidelong glance from him before his attention returned to the wall. Undeterred by his lack of response, she took a deliberate seat, reaching out to hold his hands resting on his thigh. "I understand you don't want to talk to me, Father. I am so sorry for the way I have been behaving. I promise you from now I will change. Please believe me when I say I am truly sorry." He squeezed her hand, a loving smile spread across his lips. "I know you will never lie to me. I am offering you a second chance - just bring back my old happy Marissa." Juan strided in with a lopsided smile. "Don't fret, Father, you can trust Marissa." "Son..." Miguel's face registered shock. "Son... I know, and I believe in both of you. All my children are my pride," he s
Marissa came downstairs, a mischievous grin lighting up her face as she neared the dining room. Daniella and Juan were getting ready to sit down at the dinner table. Marissa hurriedly claimed Daniella's seat. "Good morning, sister-in-law. Could you take my seat? Juan and I have an important matter to discuss," In a sly tone, she said. Daniella, smiling slightly, replied, "Why not?" Juan took his seat and paid no attention to her. Marissa found herself in a bit of a standoff with Carlos as he questioned her move to separate the newly engaged couple. She brushed it off with a nonchalant mutter, "What?" "Why split them up? Can't this wait till after breakfast?" Carlos mouthed. "Why can't I sit near Juan? After all, he will be abandoning us after getting married to his beloved Dani?" Marissa retorted. Carlos clarified, "No, Juan's not leaving. He'll be staying with us." Rolling her eyes at the response, Marissa insisted, "Dani, come on over and take your spot." Daniella, however,
"I realized it had been quite some time since I last went for a jog; my joints are aching," Miguel commented, his uneasiness clear. Juan supported him, and led the way down to the sandy shore, while Carlos dutifully followed with beach chairs in tow. Once the chairs were set up, Miguel eased into the seat, sighing with relief. "The air here is incredibly invigorating," he chuckled, observing the waves. Rosario, in her knee-length dress, joined him, taking a seat. "Let loose, everyone. Juan, forget about the ranch, just enjoy the moment," Miguel urged, his face lit up with a carefree grin. "Fear not, Dad. Juan's leaving the ranch and his worries behind today. I made a deal with Dani to lure him into a swim, and he wouldn't want to let her down," Marissa, wearing her bikini, confidently stated as the sun sparkled on the beach. While Daniella relaxed on the shore, basking in the sun, Carlos and Danna returned to the water after a short break, enjoying some fun swimming and playful s
Marissa found comfort in the stables, brushing Juan's hair, the baby horse. As she tended to him, she confided, "I love you, Juan. I'll always love you a lot. It's been days since I've been avoiding Juan and Daniella, even the family. Juan hurt me a lot that night when I wanted to apologize; he didn't even let me. It hurts to see them together, especially when they kiss. I'm so relieved that she'll be leaving soon, even though I know nothing will help me with Juan, but I hope so," Marissa shared with the foal, treating him as her confidant, much like she always did, like a trusted friend. "Can you please pick up all the horse dung?" Marissa heard Juan's voice as he directed a worker, sending a soft chill through her. She felt Juan's gaze on her as the stall door opened, but she stayed calm, resisting the urge to look back at his beautiful brown eyes. "Juan," Daniella walked to him. "What are you doing here?" he asked, closing the stall door. "I want to spend time with you as I'm le