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
"Hello, my Juan," Marissa hugged the white foal and smiled as she walked into the stall. "I've missed you. It's been days without you. You know, Daniella has left, and I'm making an effort to maintain distance from Juan, treating him more as a brother. Meanwhile, my mischievous Carlos is doing his best to find happiness with Danna, and the ever-elusive Ignacio is hardly ever at home. My parents are, as usual, wonderful. Everyone is fine and living their lives. Anyway, I just hope that one day I can forget my feelings for Juan and move on. Staying away from him seems like the best choice." "William, go and take care of the cows. I just called a vet for the infirmary. I need to hire a permanent vet for the animals," she heard Juan's authoritative voice. "Yes, Boss," she heard William obediently accepting the orders. The door creaked open, and Marissa sensed Juan's gaze on her, causing discomfort. Despite her attempts to distance herself, they always seemed to cross paths. "I'm just a
The family gathered around the dining table, engaged in discussions about the upcoming wedding anniversary celebration for Miguel and Rosario. "I'm so excited for tomorrow; they're going to love it," Carlos expressed eagerly, met with agreement from Danna, who added, "Absolutely." As Juan joined them, taking a seat next to Ignacio, he teasingly called out to Danna, "Do you always have to agree with everything Carlos says? Yesterday, he wanted the decorations in all pearl white and green, and you immediately jumped on board." Chuckling, Marissa defended her, saying, "Let her be; she just wants to make him happy." Marissa's laughter echoed throughout the room, her amusement interrupted by a cough, like a melody broken by an unexpected note. Ignacio asserted, "Juan, women should always be at our disposal; they should agree with us men because we are the dominant ones." "Ignacio, women shouldn't be at our disposal; they're equals," Carlos asserted, planting a kiss on Danna's lips. "If
Marissa found herself in the living room, immersed in the hustle of directing and orchestrating the decoration, offering precise instructions to the servants. "It should be like this here," she articulated, her vision for the space. "A touch of green would look absolutely lovely in this corner, and when the cake arrives, make sure it's placed on this side." In the midst of the bustling activity, Juan entered the living room, his gaze immediately finding Marissa. Sensing his eyes on her, she turned, meeting his eyes with a naughty wink that conveyed a silent understanding. In response, a warm smile lit up Juan's face. In the kitchen, Danna was assisting Margarita with the cooking when Carlos entered. Without hesitation, he swept Danna off her feet, his hand around her waist, and spun her around. As the spin concluded, Carlos and Danna shared a sweet kiss. Meanwhile, in the living room, Ignacio walked towards Juan. "Everything is ready," he said. "Thank you, Ignacio," Juan replied. "
Under the shimmering moonlight that danced upon the river, Marissa made her way to the water's edge. There, in an emotional moment, she slowly removed her clothes, leaving only her bra and pants. Closing her eyes, she immersed herself in the river, each step a deliberate descent into the cool, soothing water. In this solitary act, she sought relief from the pain of unrequited love, believing that fading away was the only way to escape, convinced that no one would notice her absence.Juan sprinted towards the river, catching sight of Marissa with only her bra, he swiftly dove into the water, swimming urgently to reach her. Standing before her, he took decisive action, leaning in to passionately press his lips against hers.Marissa, initially startled, felt a surge of surprise. In that unexpected kiss, she questioned the reality of the situation, only to find herself returning the kiss.Juan lifted her from the water, cradling her in his arms as he emerged from the river.Gently setting
Marissa made a conscious decision to invest her time in caring for her white foal and assisting with the other horses, immersing herself in the routine of the stable. Yet, amidst her tasks, she occasionally paused to observe Juan from afar, his figure visible through the window of his office. As she thought about ways to erase him from her heart, she struggled with the ongoing task of moving on and finding comfort in the daily routines of the ranch. Memories flooded Marissa's mind, transporting her to a time when everything was harmonious between them. Memories of Juan getting her ready for school and driving them there wrapped her with nostalgia. She treasured him for the many ways he showed his love, making her feel uniquely special among her siblings. The moment Juan completed college and decided to return to the ranch, Marissa felt a significant change in her life. It felt like a part of her essence was being carried away with him, as if he were taking a piece of her soul with hi