But Raquel only saw one thing: Raúl’s respect.
And she said yes. She slipped on the ring. Tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks. He embraced her. The world around them blurred, but in Raúl’s mind, a question gnawed at him like poison. “Would I love her if I were poor?” He tortured himself, but deep down he knew he did, that he loved her.
One day he decided to introduce her to his family. His mother, now recovered, lived in a house Raquel had bought. Raúl’s sisters were excited.
“Our brother’s fiancée is here. Our sister-in-law will be beautiful.”
The car stopped. Raquel stepped out, elegant as a queen, and suddenly, silence.
Raúl’s sisters froze. “Who is she?”
Raúl smiled awkwardly.
“No. I present to you Raquel, the woman of my life.”
“What?” his younger sister cried.
“Are you crazy? You’re bringing us an old woman as your fiancée? Disrespectful!”
Raúl shouted. “She deserves better than your insults.”
But she continued.
“You can’t even have children. We want nephews and nieces. You’re ruining your life, big brother.”
Raquel left the house crying, got into her car, and disappeared.
Raúl tried to catch up with her, but it was too late.
He called her, but she didn’t answer. He went to her house, but she wouldn’t let him in.
Then he got a message. “This is over. Thanks for everything. You can keep what I gave you, but get out of my life.”
Raúl fell to his knees, overcome with grief.
He pounded on Raquel’s door until she opened it. She didn’t even look at him.
“Why didn’t you warn me? Why did you let me suffer like this?” she said, her voice trembling.
“I wanted to tell them. I was ready, but they were faster than me. I weren’t ashamed. You were ashamed of me.”
“That’s not true. I love you, Raquel. You can’t leave me like this.”
She looked at him with the eyes of a broken woman.
“You’re leaving tomorrow morning. It’s over.”
Raúl broke down, but he didn’t give up.
“Even though you’re older than me, I’m the man in this relationship, and I love you. I’m going to marry you. You’re the woman of my life, and no one—I’m telling you, no one—will stop me from loving you.”
Those words touched Raquel to the core of her being. She ran to him and hugged him tightly. They kissed even more passionately. That night, they loved each other with all the fury of those who refuse to be broken.
The next day, they began preparing for their wedding without Raúl’s family.
But another shadow loomed over them. María, Raquel’s adopted daughter, returned from abroad to attend the wedding. When she learned that her mother was getting married, she exploded, “Who are you marrying?” And when she saw Raúl for the first time, she was speechless. “It’s him. This guy is gorgeous.” Raúl felt awkward, but Raquel laughed. What Raquel didn’t see was that her daughter was looking at Raúl with desire, and what she whispered in secret would soon destroy everything.
If I can seduce him, I’ll take everything. His loyalty and his secrets. María wasn’t like other girls. She was beautiful, cultured, and intelligent, but above all, she couldn’t stand being told no. She had always been the princess of the house, Raquel’s only and adored daughter. And now a man was going to take it all away from her. She wanted him. She desired him. “Mom, are you sure about your choice? He’s so young.” “I’ve never been so happy, María. He gives me what no one else ever has.”
But while Raquel dreamed of her marriage, María hatched a plan. The siege began. Raúl found her in the living room. She was wearing a short dress, very short. She approached him and looked him up and down. “You’re very handsome.”
“Stay back,” Raúl told her.
“Thank you, but I’m your future stepfather.”
She laughed. “That’s funny you say that.” You’re my age, it could be something more. He didn’t answer, but the days passed and Maria dared to go further. She entered his room without knocking.
She leaned too close. She whispered ambiguous words to him. Raul rejected her every time. He stood firm. “I don’t love you, Maria. I’m with your mother, that’s all.” But she didn’t care. “You’ll change your mind, you’ll see.”
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