Dappled shadows were created on the well-kept grass by the early sun as it passed through the leaves of the old oak tree. Unease began to settle in Victoria's stomach as she sipped her chamomile tea, her silk robe billowing softly in the breeze. Unspoken stress weighed heavily on the garden, which is typically a place of calm and harmony.
Eduardo sat at a little table, his forehead wrinkled in concentration, his face buried in a pile of papers. His thoughts were focused on the demands of his business, and he hardly acknowledged their presence.
Diana sat on the side of a fountain, her fingers following the elaborate engravings on the stone, her eyes lost on the horizon. Her quiet protest against the approaching shift in their family's dynamic was quite evident.
The youngest siblings, Nicolas and Azahara, were talking excitedly about their next school semester at the ground of the oak tree. Their youthful energy served as a bittersweet reminder of the innocence they still clung to, standing in sharp contrast to the solemn mood.
Victoria, her patience wearing thin, finally spoke. “Diana, ¿estás escuchando?” (Diana, are you even listening?)
Diana, her eyes still fixed on the distant horizon, replied without turning, “Por supuesto, Victoria. Siempre estoy escuchando.” (Of course, Victoria. I'm always listening.)
Her dismissive tone, her refusal to engage, ignited a spark of anger within Victoria. “No estás escuchando, Diana,” (You're not listening, Diana.) she said, her voice rising slightly. “Ni siquiera intentas entenderlo.” (You're not even trying to understand.)
“Understand what?” Diana finally turned, her eyes narrowed. “You're marrying a man we barely know, a man who came here with nothing but his charm and a desire for your family's wealth.”
“That's not true!” Victoria retorted, her anger bubbling over. “You're being disrespectful, Diana! Thiago is a good man, and I love him.”
“Love?” Diana scoffed. “Love doesn't mean anything when you're talking about family, about legacy. You're putting your own happiness above everything else, above what our family stands for.”
“And what about my happiness, Diana?” Victoria countered, her voice shaking with frustration. “You think I don't care about our family, about our legacy? I'm the eldest, for God's sake! I'm the one who's supposed to uphold our traditions, to protect our name.”
“But you're not,” Diana said, her voice was cold and sharp. “You're making choices that will damage our family, choices that will make us all look foolish in the eyes of the world.”
“I'm not making choices that will damage our family, Diana,” Victoria said, her voice firm and unwavering. “I'm making choices that will make me happy. And you, my sister, are obligated to respect my decisions, no matter what.”
She stood up, her anger giving her a sudden surge of strength. “I am the eldest, Diana, and I will not be treated like a child. You and Eduardo can have your opinions, your doubts, but you will accept Thiago, you will accept my happiness, because you have no other choice. This is my life, my decision, and I will not be swayed.”
Anger and a sense of closure weighed heavily on her words as they lingered in the air. The siblings had become divided by their opposing feelings, and the garden, which had once been a sanctuary of calm and quiet, now felt like a battlefield. Once fragrant with jasmine blossoms, the air now tasted sharply of bitterness and unsaid pressure.
In sharp contrast to the eldest sister's customary kind manner, Victoria's comments, delivered with a strong purpose, hung in the air. Stunned by the unexpected outburst, her siblings were each lost in their own thoughts and stayed silent.
When Eduardo eventually raised his head from his papers, he looked at his sister with a mix of surprise and concern. Although he had always respected Victoria's power and her unwavering loyalty to their family, he couldn't help but worry about Thiago. He was familiar with his sister and her ability to love, but he was also aware of her tendency to become blinded by passion.
Diana gazed at Victoria with a mix of hurt and rage, her face drawn and pale. She had always seen herself as her sister's confidante, defender, and closest sibling. She now feared that Victoria was choosing a stranger over their family and their shared past, and she felt a deepening sense of betrayal.
Nicolas and Azahara exchanged anxious looks, their young innocence unable to comprehend the seriousness of the situation. They were unable to identify the cause of the disagreement, but they could feel the tension and the unsaid rage. They could not see their family collapsing since to them it was a single unit and a source of love and support.
The only sounds that disturbed the dense, weighty silence were the soft rustling of leaves and the far-off chirping of birds. As her rage gradually subsided, Victoria experienced a feeling of regret for the seriousness of her words. She respected her siblings' opinions and loved them, but she was passionate about paving her own way and achieving her own happiness.
As Eduardo noticed his sister's change in attitude, he said softly, “Victoria, te queremos. Queremos lo mejor para ti. Sólo necesitamos tiempo para entenderlo.” (Victoria, we love you. We want what's best for you. We just need time to understand.)
Diana, her voice still laced with resentment, added, “You're right, Victoria. We're not obligated to accept Thiago.”
Victoria, her heart softening, sighed. “I understand, Diana. But I hope you'll try to see Thiago for who he is, not for what you think he is.”
The tension in the garden, though still palpable, had eased slightly. The siblings, united by their shared love for each other, were left to ponder the ramifications of their actions. The storm clouds, though still present, seemed to have shifted slightly.
Even though it had somewhat disappeared the tension in the garden remained. Victoria retreated to her room, seeking comfort in the peaceful seclusion, her heart heavy with a mixture of loss and rage. After her outburst, the others were left to deal with the consequences of what she had said.
Eduardo approached the grand library that held the family's vast book collection with a frown on his face. He needed a moment to work through his mixed feelings and digest what had happened that morning. Diana was already there, facing away from him, gazing out the wide arched window that looked out over the expansive grounds.
“Diana,” he said softly, his voice laced with concern. “¿Cómo se encuentra?” (How are you feeling?)
Diana turned, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger. “No sé qué pensar, Eduardo. Victoria... ha cambiado. No es la hermana que conocí.” (I don't know what to think, Eduardo. Victoria...she's changed. She's not the sister I knew.)
Eduardo approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Sigue siendo la misma que Victoria, Diana. Sólo está... enamorada. Y el amor puede hacer que la gente haga locuras.” (She's still the same as Victoria, Diana. She's just...in love. And love can make people do crazy things.)
“¿Cosas locas?” (Crazy things?) Diana scoffed, her voice sharp. “Está tirando por la borda todo lo que representamos, todo lo que representa nuestra familia. Se va a casar con un hombre que apenas conocemos, un hombre que vino aquí con nada más que su encanto y el deseo de nuestra riqueza.” (She's throwing away everything we stand for, everything our family represents. She's marrying a man we barely know, a man who came here with nothing but his charm and a desire for our wealth.)
“Diana, estás siendo injusta,” (Diana, you're being unfair.) Eduardo said, his voice firm. “Estás dejando que tus miedos nublen tu juicio. He visto a Thiago interactuar con Victoria, y parece genuino. Se preocupa por ella profundamente.” (You're letting your fears cloud your judgment. I've seen Thiago interact with Victoria, and he seems genuine. He cares for her deeply.)
“Preocuparse no paga las facturas, Eduardo,” (Caring doesn't pay the bills, Eduardo.) Diana countered, her voice laced with bitterness. “Es un hombre de negocios, un operador astuto. Ve la riqueza de Victoria, el legado de nuestra familia, y quiere un pedazo del pastel.” (He's a businessman, a shrewd operator. He sees Victoria's wealth, our family's legacy, and he wants a piece of the pie.)
“No lo sé, Diana,” (I don't know, Diana.) Eduardo said, his voice hesitant. “He visto un lado diferente de él. Parece sincero, respetuoso. Y Victoria... nunca ha sido tan feliz.” (I've seen a different side of him. He seems sincere, respectful. And Victoria...she's never been happier.)
Diana sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Sólo quiero lo mejor para ella, Eduardo. Quiero que sea feliz, pero también quiero que esté a salvo. Me temo que este Thiago no es lo que parece.” (I just want what's best for her, Eduardo. I want her to be happy, but I also want her to be safe. I'm afraid this Thiago he's not what he seems.)
Eduardo, his heart heavy with concern for his sister, placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Entiendo tus miedos, Diana. Pero tenemos que darle una oportunidad a Victoria. Tenemos que darle a Thiago una oportunidad. Tal vez, sólo tal vez, no es el lobo con piel de cordero que crees que es.” (I understand your fears, Diana. But we need to give Victoria a chance. We need to give Thiago a chance. Maybe, just maybe, he's not the wolf in sheep's clothing you think he is.)
The siblings, their hearts filled with conflicting emotions, stood in silence, the weight of their family's future pressing down on them.
YOU ARE READING
𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐳 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: The Broken Vows
RomanceVictoria, a renowned fashion designer, finds her world shattered when her lover, Thiago, the charming CEO of a celebrated restaurant, betrays her trust. Their whirlwind romance, fueled by passion and shared dreams, crumbles under the weight of his i...
