Athos slid his body down and, as he used to do, showered kisses over the bulge in her belly, tenderly, making my heart overflow with a genuine affection, never experienced before. At that moment I was sure what I wanted for my life and that was to be with Athos forever, to be his real wife, to see my son grow up by his side. I loved him with all my heart and it was painful to imagine a lifetime without him.The emotions that washed over me were so intense, my eyes filled with tears. So I grabbed both sides of Athos 's face and brought him to me, pressing my mouth to his, kissing him lazily, allowing the passion to explode in my chest. The hope that we could be together, that this could work, had never been so alive and real inside me.Marina was right, we belonged together and we needed to raise our son together. That was now crystal clear to me.Under the last vestiges of that day's light, I broke the kiss and looked into Athos 's eyes .“I love you,” I whispered. "I want to spend th

“No, Rylee . What I want is for you not to run away with my son!”- I do not need it, thank you. I am fine. Just leave me alone.Clearly disappointed, she swept her gaze across the table, as if suspiciously checking to see if I was really involved with the work, or just avoiding her.- Clear. Sorry to bother.With that said, she left the office, head down, while I continued to sit behind the desk, overcome by that myriad of love and hate that burned in my veins, threatening to drive me crazy.I never left the office that night. After a few shots of whiskey, I ended up falling asleep right there, in an armchair, which made me wake up the next morning with a bad backache. Upon realizing that I was awakened by the insistent ringing of the cell phone, I answered the call, still sleepy. It was from the hospital, a nurse calling to say that Arnaldo had woken up, a miracle, according to her. In my opinion it was just the confirmation of that saying that a bad vase does not break.I analyzed

After examining me, he discharged me and I went back to Athos 's house , accommodated in the back seat of the car with Marina, while he drove it. Arriving there, that scoundrel had the audacity to take me in his arms and start carrying me up the stairs, in order to prevent me from going up alone."Would you please put me down?" I am not an invalid who can't get around on her own! I roared, pummeling his chest with my clenched fists, struggling in a feeble attempt to break free."Will you stop hitting me?" I am so much stronger, it is useless to try to break free.Defeated, I crossed my arms over my chest and turned my face away as I let the rascal take me."I am disgusted with you," I muttered through clenched teeth, not looking her in the face.“You hate me and I understand. Disgust is something else.- Everything that is bad, is what I feel for you.— Be careful that all this radiation does not affect the baby.The fact that he did not get upset, like he did not care how I felt, onl

I let Marina convince me that going out and having fun was the best way to get Athos out of my head. So, for the next few days, she would drag me wherever there was something interesting to do. Because of the pregnancy, we always went out during the day and I never drank alcohol. We went to the shopping center in Belize a lot, but also to a recreational club there, where we enjoyed playing sports and swimming in the waterslide. From time to time we camped and practiced other outdoor activities, such as fishing and picnics. The options weren't many. Young people in the city used to have fun in bars and clubs, but I could not sleep or drink.Matheus was always with us and from time to time Fernando showed up too. Marina's idea was that I would get to know Fernando better and end up getting involved with him, but the boy was unlucky. Almost every time we arranged to meet, something happened and he could not go. When it was not his car in trouble, it was someone in his family in trouble,

Five years later...RYLEELove, family, and a happy ending are elements that often intertwine in the stories of people's lives, creating a framework of contentment, affection, and fulfillment. This triad represents an essential part of the fabric of human relationships and is a shared goal for many.Love is the foundation that sustains the family, and, in turn, the family is where love finds a home. Love is a deep bond that can take various forms, whether between parents and children, siblings, spouses or partners, and even close friends. This feeling is the driving force that connects people, offering support, understanding, and unconditional affection.The family, in turn, is the intimate circle where love flourishes. It is the place where memories are created, where traditions are shared, and where life's challenges are faced together. The family is the sanctuary where individuals find security and a sense of belonging. It can be formed in various ways, including blood ties or conn