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“Money puts food on my table and the tables of my employees. It pays your salary at the dealership. Your father’s gambling problem risks all of that. Do you think he can stop?”
I shake my head. “There was this one time he won big. Promised me and Mia a trip to Disneyland. I was twelve. We were so excited, Mia and I. But then, as the date got closer, he canceled it.
“Said he needed the money for something else. I knew he’d lost it at the roulette table or on the horses. I want to say he’ll quit, but it’s been like this my whole life. I think I’ve lost him.”
Tears form on my cheek but Rafael wipes them away as I continue to talk.
“I dropped out of school to work, hoping it would give Mia a chance to focus on her dream of becoming a doctor. It’s always been about shielding her as much as I could, making sure one of us gets to chase our dreams.”
A sigh escapes me. “And my mom, she’s been caught in the middle of this for so long. I feel sorry for her, trapped by circumstances, by loyalty to a man who’s lost to his vices. She said once she married him for better or worse.”
“Has he ever hit her?”
“A couple of times when we misbehaved.”
“My father was much the same.” He takes my hand in his. “Let’s put you to bed.”
His bedroom, bathed in the soft glow of bedside lamps, feels like a sanctuary from the world outside. He has transformed the space into a haven of comfort and intimacy, with soft, inviting sheets and the faint scent of jasmine in the air. It’s a setting that speaks of thoughtfulness and care.
As we stand at the edge of the bed, Rafael turns to me, his gaze intense yet filled with a vulnerability I’ve never seen before.
“Amelia,” he begins, “I know this might seem sudden, but being with you tonight, knowing everything you’ve faced... it’s made me realize how much I want you. It was an obsession before, but now it’s something else. It’s love. Does that frighten you?”
His words hang between us, a proposal of permanence that takes me by surprise. The idea of starting a family, of building a life with Rafael, is both exhilarating and terrifying.
Yet, looking into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and the hope reflected back at me, I feel a flutter of excitement at the possibility of a future I’d never allowed myself to imagine.
“Rafael, I...” I start, my heart racing with a mix of emotions. The idea of a permanent relationship, of a family with Rafael, is something I hadn’t dared to consider, but now, faced with his earnestness, I find myself caught up in the wonder of it all.
He waits, patient and understanding, as I gather my thoughts. “I never thought I could have this, a future, a family... with someone who truly cares for me,” I confess, my voice trembling with the weight of my realization.
Rafael steps closer, wrapping his arms around me in a gentle embrace that feels like a promise. “I do care, Amelia. More than I’ve ever cared for anyone. And I want to give you everything you deserve, a life filled with love, happiness, and security.”
11
RAFAEL
As dawn ushers in the day, I’m reminded of the shadows that linger in our newfound happiness. Adrian was at the casino again last night, gambling again.
Amelia stirs, her eyelashes fluttering open to meet the morning light. She looks up at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of sleepiness and contentment, a sight that tightens something in my chest.
“Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice soft and husky from sleep.
“Good morning,” I reply, my voice low, the words feeling inadequate for the swell of emotions inside me.
The tranquility of the moment is precious, yet I know we can’t afford to linger in this bubble of peace. The concerns that have been gnawing at me since last night press for attention, demanding to be voiced.
I stroke her hair gently, savoring the warmth of her skin against mine, before the words spill out, “Amelia, something has to be done about your father. It’s beyond talk now.”
Her body stiffens slightly at the mention of her father, a reaction that pains me. “What do you mean?” she asks, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.
I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “His gambling... it’s not just a personal vice anymore. It’s becoming a threat—to him, to you, to us. If he continues unchecked, I’m afraid of what could happen.”
“You’ll do what you did to that loan shark?”
“I’m simply saying this can’t go on. Ivanov called me late last night and wanted my personal assurance I’d clear your father’s debts yet again.”
Amelia sits up, pulling the sheet around her as she processes my words. The conflict is evident in her eyes, torn between her loyalty to her family and the reality of the situation.
