Richard Junior was thinking about the kiss he had shared with that woman. It was clear that it wasn't his first kiss, but it was the first time he had done it feeling something so deep for a woman.Madeleine had unexpectedly entered his life, and with each passing day, he was more certain that he wanted to be with her forever. However, he had to understand that her husband had died on the same day his niece Joanne was born.He had to respect the mourning that the woman had for her late husband.Unable to bear it any longer, he walked determinedly towards the room occupied by Madeleine and her daughters. He stood at the door when he heard his sister's voice inside.Without caring about anything other than explaining why he had done it, he entered, startling the two women. He was surprised to see that Madeleine was crying.Katia, realizing that her brother wanted to talk to her friend alone, got up from the edge of the bed and then left the room, closing the door behind her. Still, she
Madeleine stared at her friend's phone. Something was going on, but she had realized that neither of them would tell her. Should she tell Junior?Thinking of him, she couldn't help but feel nervous. These days, she couldn't look him in the eye without remembering the confession he had made to her by singing that song.It was the first time someone had confessed to her in that way, and she didn't know how to react. In that moment, she realized the advice she had given her friend.Both of them had lost the people they loved, but one of them had decided to move on with life and be happy, while the other refused to date anyone. It still felt too early to her.That night, she fell asleep thinking about Junior's confession. She left her friend's room and found the man who cared for her daughters, feeling her heart race again."Junior...," she called him, feeling somewhat nervous. "I have to tell you something.""If it's about the other day... you don't have to give me an answer," he spoke,
Alice stayed with her for a few more minutes before heading downstairs. In the living room, everyone was worried, and Richard's expression was the most notable in the room.Seeing his ex-wife enter with a sad demeanor, he got up from the couch, a little distressed."What's going on, Alice?" Richard inquired."We need to talk in private, darling," she told her husband."Mama, I have a right to know what's happening to my sister," Junior spoke, sitting on the floor, playing with his niece who, due to the late hour, was falling asleep in his arms."Madeleine, please. Call Stefan and ask him to come," she told her daughter's friend."He's already on his way to Lourmarin. I told him this afternoon when I went to check on Katia," the brunette woman replied."Alice, daughter. What's happening?" Gael asked, concerned, sitting in his armchair.She sighed and, without further ado, she told everyone what Katia had shared with her. The expressions on everyone's faces, except for Madeleine's, chan
The next day, at a café terrace, two men sat at one of the tables. The conversation seemed serious as their faces were solemn.The brown-haired man appeared rather upset, while the dark-haired man calmly sipped his coffee."You should tell her. Sooner or later, she's going to find out, and it will be worse," advised Hilbert, placing his coffee on a small saucer that matched the white cup with red flowers. "Besides, it's better that you tell her than someone else does.""It's not easy. Remember that Gretchen left me for what I am, and I don't want Katia to leave... she would take my daughter with her," he explained, frustrated."Whichever way you choose, you'll end up losing them both. If you decide to keep lying to her, your enemies might kill them, and you'll lose them. If you tell her the truth, you might lose them or not, who knows, but there's a chance she might leave. I'm sure it will hurt her more if someone else tells her instead of you," Hilbert crossed his arms. "Which of all
In her crib, Joanne was sleeping peacefully, unaware of what was happening to her mother.Katia approached the crib and watched her daughter. She gently stroked the baby's head with her fingertips, and tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably.She had gone from hatred to love with Stefan and feared losing him just as she had lost Oscar. Why did she feel that he was hiding something from her?There was a knock on the door, and to conceal her tears, she wiped them away before opening the door. She covered her baby and, fighting back the tears, turned around.She opened her eyes to see that it was her daughter's father."What are you doing here?" she asked as he closed the door."Can't I see my family?" he replied with a small smile, approaching his wife. "I know I told you yesterday that your father didn't let me see you, but today I had a little help.""Help?""Yes. Your sister seemed to have made a good impression on Hilbert, and she told him that your father wasn't at the house," s
"Leave it, Katia. What they did to you during the kidnapping is one thing, and it's a completely different matter that this wretch touched you knowing you were married to me," he interrupted coldly. "Hilbert...."What are you doing here!? I made it very clear that I didn't want you near my daughter," a voice shouted from behind Stefan.It was Richard, accompanied by his wife. They had been drawn by the voices."Relax, sir. You won't see me near your daughter anymore," he said seriously. Elyse approached her young daughter, who was shaking her head vigorously. "You told me to think about what was more important, my "business" or your daughter.""Don't tell me you've made up your mind in a day?" He asked sarcastically."I had made up my mind long before, sir," he replied seriously."And? What is most important to someone like you?" They locked eyes, challenging each other.The rest of the people, except Hilbert, had no idea what they were talking about.Katia looked at her father and he
When they were just a few inches away from their lips meeting, the sound of both their phones interrupted them. They looked at each other in surprise as the calls were from Katia and Alice, her mother.Madeleine took a deep breath before answering her friend and moved a bit away from Junior not to disturb him while talking to her mother."What's going on, Mom?" The man said with concern."Oh, darling... You have no idea what happened this afternoon at the estate... Your sister is inconsolable," the woman told him."But, what happened?" He wondered, noticing the gestures Madeleine was making while talking on the phone."Stefan came to the house shortly after you left with Madeleine, and there was a big commotion... Your sister and him broke up.""What do you mean they broke up? Mom, tell me what happened," her eldest son demanded."I don't know all the details, but... it seems that, for him, his business is more important than your sister, and that's when everything went wrong.""And w
Five years had passed since the last time they had seen each other.Katia had given birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Stefanie Elein. She had grayish-blue eyes with rosy cheeks. She had also left Verlag shortly after finding out she was expecting a child from Stefan, the last time they had been together.Now, she works at El Corte Inglés in the Women's Clothing department. Richard Junior had requested a transfer to Seattle to be closer to Madeleine and their daughters. Joanne was five years old and a very cheerful and lively girl, who loved her little sister very much.Stefanie Elein was four years old, and every time she laughed, Katia smiled, although her heart was clenched in her chest.A week after her daughter Stefanie Elein's fourth birthday, Katia was at her workplace when Madeleine arrived with her daughters.Ashley ran toward the brunette girl followed by her sister Lucy. Katia greeted her with a smile and kissed her on the cheek.Since Madeleine started dating Jun