Todos los capítulos de From Rejected to Rafael's : Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

Chapter 22MERIS POV"Oh, sweetheart..." My mom opened her arms. I leaned forward without another word.She held me just as she had when I was a little girl frightened by thunderstorms. For a few precious moments...I allowed myself to simply be her daughter. Nothing else.The soft knock at the door broke the silence. I straightened quickly and wiped at my eyes."Come in," my mother called gently. The door opened. Rafael stepped inside. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket anymore.His white shirt was neatly rolled to his forearms, giving him a less intimidating appearance than usual.His gaze found me first and he frowned slightly. Only for a second. Then he looked towards my mother."Mrs. Volkov."He inclined his head respectfully."I hope I'm not interrupting." My mother smiled warmly."Not at all." He stepped a little closer to the bed."I came to pick Meris up." His voice remained calm."But you should finish your conversation.""I'll wait outside." He didn't rush us. He didn't ling

Chapter 24RAFAEL'S POV"I think this might be close." I smiled."My father isn't nearly as frightening as people believe.""Easy for you to say.""You've known him your whole life." She wasn't wrong."I promise he'll treat you with respect. I know." Her voice softened."I'm just afraid I'll disappoint him.""You won't." She held my gaze for another moment. Something in her shoulders finally relaxed.She nodded once."I'll believe you." I released her hand slowly. For reasons I couldn't explain… I almost missed the warmth of it.I climbed out of the vehicle and walked around to her side. The cool evening air carried the faint scent of roses from the gardens.Before she could reach for the handle, I opened the passenger door.She looked up at me with that same surprised expression she'd worn outside the hospital."You keep doing that.""What?""Opening doors for me." I shrugged lightly."It's a habit." Her lips curved into a teasing smile."I thought powerful CEOs were too busy for thi

**Chapter 26: Dinner at Belmont Mansion****MERIS POV**If I had known Connor would be at the Belmont mansion, I wouldn't have gone. Not because I still had feelings for him, and not because his betrayal still hurt. I just didn't want Mr. Belmont thinking I was some loose girl who jumped from one brother to the other days after a broken engagement.I didn't want to embarrass Rafael either. This was only a contract, but he deserved better than that, especially after everything he'd done for my mother.I watched him standing there, jaw tight, every line of him coiled like something about to snap. Connor's hand had trembled in mine before he let go.Mr. Belmont said nothing. He just watched his two sons circle each other over me, and I felt my face go hot with shame, even knowing none of it was real.******The tension eased once we sat. Servants moved around the table setting down dish after dish, and that was when I saw it. The cutlery beside my plate.Four forks. Three knives. Two spo

**CHAPTER 28****RAFAEL'S POV**Connor's fingers were wrapped around Meris's wrist, and she was pulling against them, trying to make it look like she wasn't.I saw it before anyone else did. The way her knuckles had gone pale. The small tug she gave, twice, before he finally let go.Something in me went very quiet and very cold.I didn't care that my father was three feet away. I crossed the room and had Connor's hand in mine before I'd decided to move, and for one clean second I thought about what it would feel like to close my fist and keep closing it, till it's crushed.Then Meris's hand landed on my arm.That was all. Just her hand, light, warm, steady. But it worked faster than anything else could have. My grip eased before I told it to."Rafael." She said my name quietly, like she was talking me down off a ledge only she could see.I let Connor go. He rubbed his wrist and looked at me the way a dog looks at a bigger dog, like he wanted to bare his teeth but knew better.At the t

CHAPTER 30RAFAEL'S POV“He's an old friend.” Meris responded.“An old friend?”“Yes.”“From where?”“School.” I looked at her.“High school?” She nodded. I waited for more. Nothing came.My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.“Why did he ask you to meet him?”“He didn't.” I frowned.“Then why were you there?” She swallowed.“I needed to talk to someone.”“Someone?” Her eyes closed for a moment.“Yes.”“Why couldn't that someone be me?” She opened her eyes and turned her face toward the window again. For several seconds, she said nothing.Then she whispered, “Because I didn't know if you wanted to hear me.” My chest tightened.“What does that mean?”“Nothing.”“Meris.”“Please.” The word was so quiet I almost missed it. I looked at her. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap. Her fingers were shaking.I wanted to ask what had happened. I wanted to demand the truth. But another image flashed through my mind.The photograph. My anger returned. I looked back at the road.“Fine