💮͓̽His Mistress💮

Do You Still Want Them?

💎Angel💎

With trembling fingers, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside.

No shattered glass. No blood. I let out a shaky breath of relief and looked around.

"Raul?" I called softly, checking the bathroom.

Nothing.

The balcony door was ajar, the curtains swaying with the night breeze. I stepped outside and found him standing there, elbows resting on the railing, his eyes fixed on the dark sky.

A silhouette carved out of grief and silence.

I walked up to him and gently placed my palm on the tense muscle of his arm. He didn't flinch. Didn't move. Just stared.

"I won't pretend to understand exactly how you feel, Raul... because I don't," I said quietly.

"But I know it's hard—seeing him, remembering everything. Still... please, don't let the anger consume you. Don't let hate make a home inside you. It'll steal your peace, no matter how hard you try to be happy."

A tear rolled down my cheek. "And I want you to be happy, Raul. Our baby wants her papa to be happy too. Won't you try... for us?"

He turned to me, his expression blank, eyes guarded.

This will take more than words, I thought, my heart sinking.

"Raul," I whispered, taking his hand, my thumb tracing his knuckles.

"I'm not saying you should pretend like nothing happened. But maybe... maybe just give him a chance to prove he's sorry. That he's worthy of your forgiveness."

I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze. "Because if you're still holding on to the past, Raul... if you're still angry at him for taking those people from you... maybe it means you haven't let go of them either."

His brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. "How can you say—"

"It is like part of you still wants them. Like if it hadn't happened, you'd still choose them over me."

The words stung, not just for effect—I felt them too, a quiet fear gnawing at my heart.

"And if that's true... then maybe you don't love me the way you say you do."

"Angel..." he murmured, stepping closer and pulling me into his arms.

"That's not it," he whispered, burying his face in my neck. "God, that's not it. If anything, I'm grateful it happened, because it led me to you. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have found you. I wouldn't know what it means to be whole."

His voice cracked.

"I'm not mad at Nikolai for taking them. And maybe the blame isn't even fully his. If Alfreda, Claretta, or Catalina truly loved me, or had any ounce of shame, they wouldn't have slept with him—wouldn't have even thought about it. That's what broke me. It made me question my worth."

He pulled back, eyes meeting mine with raw intensity.

"That's also what drew me to you, tesoro. Even when you tried so hard to resist me, your eyes betrayed you."

I tilted my head, curious despite the tears.

"I saw how much you wanted me. When I left for Paris and knew Nickolai was back in LA... I nearly lost it. I thought you'd choose him—he was the 'safe' option, the single one. But you didn't. You chose me. Despite what people would say. Despite everything."

He cupped my face gently.

"You chose me. That's why I'll love you for the rest of my life."

A shadow passed over his face again. The pain returned.