Victor and Saraí had been through hell and back together. Their journey from the compound where Saraí had been held captive to their current life was nothing short of miraculous. Now, they faced a new challenge—meeting Victor's family.
Victor had always been a man of few words, his stoic demeanor hiding the depths of his emotions. But with Saraí, he found himself opening up in ways he never thought possible. As they drove to his family's home, he glanced at her, his hand resting on hers.
"Are you nervous?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Saraí smiled, though her eyes betrayed her anxiety. "A little. What if they don't like me?"
Victor squeezed her hand. "They will. You're strong, brave, and you've been through so much. They'll see that."
They arrived at a charming house nestled in a quiet neighborhood. The garden was in full bloom, a stark contrast to the darkness they had left behind. Victor's mother, Elena, greeted them at the door, her eyes lighting up when she saw her son.
"Victor!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight embrace. "It's been too long."
He hugged her back, his usually stern face softening. "I've missed you, Mom."
Elena turned to Saraí, her smile warm and welcoming. "And you must be Saraí. Victor has told me so much about you."
Saraí felt a wave of relief wash over her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Martinez."
"Please, call me Elena," she said, taking Saraí's hands in hers. "Come in, both of you. Dinner is almost ready."
Inside, the house was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food. Victor's younger sister, Isabella, peeked out from the kitchen, her curiosity evident.
"Hi, I'm Isabella," she said, her eyes wide with interest. "It's nice to finally meet you, Saraí."
Saraí smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Nice to meet you too, Isabella."
As they sat down for dinner, the conversation flowed easily. Elena and Isabella asked Saraí about her life, her interests, and how she and Victor met. Saraí shared her story, leaving out the darker details, focusing instead on the strength and resilience that had brought her to this moment.
Victor watched her with pride, his heart swelling with love. He had never imagined finding someone who understood him so completely, someone who could see past his cold exterior to the man beneath.
After dinner, they moved to the living room, where Elena brought out a photo album. "I thought you might like to see some old pictures of Victor," she said with a mischievous grin.
Victor groaned. "Mom, not the baby pictures."
Elena laughed. "Oh, especially the baby pictures."
Saraí giggled as she looked through the album, seeing a side of Victor she had never known. There were pictures of him as a child, playing in the garden, his face smeared with chocolate cake, and even a few of him dressed up for Halloween.
"You were adorable," Saraí teased, nudging him playfully.
Victor rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Don't let these pictures fool you. I was a handful."
As the evening wore on, Saraí felt a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in years. Victor's family welcomed her with open arms, their warmth and kindness a balm to her soul.
Later, as they prepared to leave, Elena hugged Saraí tightly. "You're part of our family now," she said softly. "Thank you for bringing my son back to us."
Tears welled up in Saraí's eyes. "Thank you for accepting me."
In the car, Victor took her hand again. "See? I told you they'd love you."
Saraí leaned her head on his shoulder. "I love you, Victor."
He kissed her forehead, his heart full. "I love you too, Saraí. More than anything."
As they drove away, Saraí knew that this was just the beginning of their new life together—a life filled with love, hope, and the promise of a brighter future.
