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 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 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

Daniella entered a room, with Efrain following closely behind. "I'm sorry for calling you here. I just couldn't stand the way your girlfriend was insinuating that you couldn't bring justice between me and Juan," she began, her tone apologetic."Just tell me what you want to say," Efrain urged, his expression unreadable."Efrain, amidst all the drama outside because of Marissa, I've made a decision. Even though Juan may be guilty, I... I've decided to no longer press charges. I can't see how Marissa was humiliating you because of her feelings," Daniella confessed."I can understand, Juan is her brother," Efrain acknowledged, his tone thoughtful."No, Marissa has been deceiving everyone all this time. To her, you're just an escape, a distraction from her intense feelings for him that have never changed. That's why she's causing a scene outside," Daniella asserted."I don't get what you're saying," Efrain replied, his confusion clear in his voice.Daniella walked to her wardrobe, retriev

Marissa sat in her bedroom, tears streaming down her face, when Juan entered with a tray. "Marissa, here's your dinner. You missed lunch with us," he said."I'm not hungry. I just want to be alone," Marissa replied."You know I never listen to you when it comes to taking care of yourself. That's why you're going to eat, and then we're going to talk," Juan insisted, his tone firm but compassionate.He placed the tray on the nightstand and offered his hand to help her sit on the bed. "So, what went down with Guerra?""He's aware of everything, maybe even more, and it's all twisted up thanks to Daniella. I don't know what she told him, but she mixes things up, making me feel insignificant. And maybe I made it worse because he proposed, and I turned him down.""Why? You love him, don't you?" Juan inquired."I do, so much that it's tearing me apart. I've fallen for him. I love that he's the one I love," Marissa confessed."Then why say no?" Juan pressed."Because I don't want to lose him,"