Last night’s dinner with the Pedrads had gone surprisingly well. Just as predicted, they had not idea about what Omar had done to Emilio’s youngest daughter. They were just as angry as he was, he not angrier but they were willing to work things out. It didn’t take much convincing for them to agree to the terms of an arranged marriage, but everything had to be kept hush for the fear of the relentless tabloids. It would be a major blow to both families, since they were both influential and prominent.

As much as the festivities were practically oozing in the air, Emilio couldn’t help but feel the absence of his daughter. He wanted to reject Chelsea’s request for a girl’s night out but alas, Dolores had overridden his voice, saying that she needed to get a life back on track.

The truth was that Emilio was afraid of hearing that she was on the brink of death once again. When he had received a call about her condition months ago…how her life was hanging on by a whisker, he couldn’t bear the pain. Getting involved with the Dos Santos family had been a mistake from the word go. In hindsight, he should have never even considered the absurd deal because it had done nothing but cause him grief. It brought him some kind of relief that that would be over in matter of days and they wouldn’t have to see that damned family again.

Humberto was a snake, but his son was worse. How could he have thought that that imbecile could possibly have committed fully to his daughter? At some point in time, he had really thought that he was in love with Ximena, but it seemed that he was wrong. Not only had he betrayed his daughter’s trust, but he had betrayed Emilio’s trust as well.

“Adriano,” Emilio said as he spotted the young man coming back from where he had disappeared at the wedding venue. “Could I have a word with you?”

Adriano nodded and made his way over to his father-in-law. “Yes sir?”

Emilio motioned towards his daughter who was happily chatting away with her bridesmaids, friends and other family members. She looked so happy and like she didn’t have a care in the world. “You see that smile on my daughter’s face?” he asked, and Adriano nodded his head once more.

“It’s beautiful. She’s beautiful,” he replied, smiling at her as she threw her head back in laughter when somebody said something funny to her.

“You are the reason behind that smile. I’ve noticed that my daughter is smitten by you. And I’d like to continue seeing her this peaceful, joyful and care free. I am entrusting you with her heart, and her life. Now, I know that marriage comes with its trials and errors but if you both work hard enough, you’ll forget through it. This is no longer about the contract. It’s about her,” he stated in his authoritative tone. He grasped Adriano’s shoulder with a steely grip. “If you hurt my daughter, I will not hesitate to end you. Am I understood?” he threatened with a chilly smile.

Adriano looked at him in bewilderment. “I would never hurt her. She doesn’t deserve that,” he told him shakily, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.

“Good, then we’re on the same page. Congratulations!” Emilio cheered, before letting the shaken up young man go back to his bride.

Glancing at the clock on his phone, Emilio noticed that it was well past noon and not a word from Ximena. He had already tried to call her several times but she hadn’t been picking up. He was starting to get worried and a headache was beginning to form behind his eyes. Salvador opened the door and walked into his office, bringing him out of his raging thoughts.

“Dad, I need to telling something,”He said as he shut the door and approached his father’s large mahogany desk.

Emilio sighed and reclined in his seat. “What is this about, Salvador? Here to tell me that your girlfriend is pregnant?” he asked sarcastically. That was so unlike him that his son did a double take. Emilio never joked or made sarcastic remarks. He was an all-round serious guy, so the stress he was currently feeling was getting to his mind.

Salvador took a seat in on one of the vacant chairs. “I just overhead a conversation between Andrea and Chelsea on the phone,” he stated smugly and Emilio rolled his eyes.

“What did your mother tell you about eavesdropping. It’s a rather unbecoming trait you have and you need to get it out of your system before you overhear something you weren’t supposed to know,” he scolded him but Salvador just smirked.

He folded his arms across his chest. “Oh, trust me Dad…this is something that you’re going to want to hear.”

***

After they arrived home, Adriano headed upstairs and took a shower to remove the muck and dirt that he had gotten all over himself. Ximena stayed downstairs as she opted to make something to eat, since their last proper meal had been some light snacks on the plane ride back from Orlando. Although she didn’t say it out loud, Ximena was still shaken by what she had perceived earlier. Even the fight Adriano had gotten into with Dominic wasn’t nearly as bad.

The worst part was she felt bad for Humberto. He looked almost dead when she saw him on the ground. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was truly okay after that thorough beating he had received. He was awful, no doubt about that, but he didn’t deserve to almost die in the hands of his son.

But most of all, she felt bad for Adriano. He was trying to be strong about it but she could easily see past his strong façade that he had been putting on for quite some time now. He wasn’t okay, she could clearly see that. Nobody would be alright after finding out they were part of some grand scheme all in the name of money and greed.

Maybe Humberto did deserve that beating after all…

Ximena could only imagine what it had been like growing up with such a terrible father, and growing up knowing your mother had abandoned you. Adriano was a strong man; by far the most courageous, strong-willed and dauntless man she had ever come across. Even though he had every reason to be a monster, he chose to rise above the tribulations and fight to be a better man than his father ever could be. He would definitely be a great father someday.

Father? Father! We’re definitely not having any kids any time soon, she thought with a small laugh as she continued to make an assortment of sandwiches. The idea of having children with him was indeed nice, but neither one of them was ready for that. They were still working on building a stronger relationship and making things work again. But this time she was confident everything would work out for the best.

Once done, Ximena carried the food stuffs over to the dining table. Adriano had been upstairs for over half an hour. She was beginning to wonder what he was up to. Just as she was about to check on him, the doorbell rang followed by a loud knock. Frowning to herself, she padded over to the door. They weren’t expecting anyone as far as she was concerned. Maybe it was Chelsea who had come to check on them like she had promised last night.

Opening the door, the smile that was on her face wiped off as quickly as it had formed when she came face to face with none other than Emilio Dos Ramos. “P-papa? Que estas haciendo aqui? (what are you doing here?),” she uttered in complete and utter shock. Of all the people who could have showed up on her front porch, it just had to be her father? How on earth did he even know she was there?

“Deberua preguntarte lo mismo, hija. (I should be asking you the same, daughter.),” he replied savagely, not at all stopping his tone from sounding clipped.

Ximena couldn’t move, her feet routed to the spot. She could see her mother and siblings a little behind her father. Andrea looked guilty, whilst Salvador was sporting a bored expression as their mother continued to scold him in Spanish for whatever it is that he had done. “Love, who’s at the door?” Adriano asked as he came to stand behind her. When his eyes landed on Emilio, he gulped visibly as his eyes widened. “Oh, shit,” he breathed lowly and Ximena shared the same sentiment.

Oh, shit indeed.

“We came to pick you up. Get in the car right now,” Emilio ground out through clenched teeth. He was about to grab Ximena’s arm but Adriano stepped in front of her, stopping him from doing so.

“With all due respect, I can’t allow you to do that. The only place Ximena belongs is by my side,” Adriano interjected defiantly, shoulders squared and looking at Mr. Dos Ramos with an unwavering gaze. The way Emilio’s eyes darkened at his bold move had Ximena slightly cowering back.

He wasn’t used to being told ‘no’. In fact, nobody had ever told him the word, nobody ever refused Emilio Dos Ramos’s requests unless they had a somewhat of a death wish. And as much as she wanted to kiss Adriano on the cheek for his act of valor, she knew that it was far from over.

Emilio chuckled darkly before looking back around at his wife and younger children. “Did he just say that or was it just my imagination?” he asked rhetorically, but clearly Adriano clearly didn’t get the M.O.

“I can repeat myself if you want,” he spoke about once more.

Emilio made a move to charge towards him. “You have no right after what you did-,”

“Dad, please stop. Adriano didn’t do anything,” Ximena finally spoke up as she came to stand beside Adriano. She subtly intertwined her hand with his, and he gave hers a squeeze. She was scared witless at what she was about to do. Nothing had mentally prepared her for that moment. Only if she had thought of it sooner that this would happen somehow.

His razor-sharp glare shifted to her. “What do you mean by that?” he demanded indignantly. “Didn’t you say he had a made a mockery of your vows? He was unfaithful and disloyal to you the last time I checked. He made a fool of you…my daughter and now you’re defending him?” he challenged with a strained voice.

Undoubtedly, Emilio had been deeply disturbed by the accident and what came after. He still wasn’t over it and, in his eyes, he still saw Adriano as nothing but a traitor. It was going to take a lot of convincing and talking to make him understand it all.

“I think it’s best if you all came inside…” she motioned for them all to enter the house. Everybody was already under the roof, except Emilio who seemed rather hesitant. “Dad, please. You really need to hear this,” Ximena pleaded with him, holding her hand out to him. Groaning in frustration, he took her hand and let her guide him into their living room.

***

Silence prevailed against the minute particles floating around in the air. Looks of utter disbelief and contempt were exchanged, but still no words were spoken. Ximena could see that her family clearly couldn’t believe what they had just told them; heck, even she couldn’t believe it herself for a second last night.

It was completely absurd. And yet, it was irrevocably true.

“So, let me get this straight,” Emilio began, his eyes trained on the rug at his feet. “This was all part of a scheme somehow witfully concocted by your conniving father. You mean to tell me that he plotted all of this and used all of us, just like that?” his tone rose with each word. He stood up and pointed at Adriano. “Boy, do you take me for a fool?” he yelled, a vein popping in his aging forehead.

“Emilio, tranquilo por favor (please calm down),” Dolores said in an attempt to soothe him but he wasn’t budging. “Do you honestly think he’d just come up with something like that just to deceive all of us. That recording is enough evidence and let’s be frank, Humberto is the type of man to do something like this,” she reasoned.

Emilio tsked as he shook his head. “It’s too unbelievable but if it is true, then that’s more of a reason why I don’t want my daughter near these psychopaths. I stand by my decision, Ximena we are leaving right now,” he stated in an unwavering voice, a frown etched on his face.

Adriano stood up as well. “You can leave, but my wife is not going anywhere. She stays. You might not understand this, Emilio, but I love Ximena. With every fiber of my being. I know this all began because of a but it’s become more than that. I don’t need a piece of paper to decide anything for me. As much as I am grateful for you and my father bringing us together, I’m pretty sure I would have met your daughter and fallen in love with her anyways. My life only started to make sense because she walked into it. A lot of ugly things have transpired, but one thing remains; our love. And I won’t let you take away from me,” he said calmly, having moved a few steps forward so he was standing face to face with Ximena’s father. “I will fight you if I have to.”

As they faced off, Ximena came to stand beside Adriano, a smile plastered on her face. He kept on giving her more and more reasons for her to fall deeper in love with him. And not to mention that him being willing to fight her dad somehow came off rather appealing to her but she shook away the wayward thought before she blushed like a ripe tomato.

Intertwining their hands, they both looked challengingly at Emilio. Andrea did a small clap and squealed, before ejecting from the couch and coming to stand with Ximena and Adriano. “You two are so cute. Sorry dad, but I’m on their side. Let them stay together,” she sighed, passing a wistful glance at Adriano. If only Omar would do the same for her one day…

Dolores also rose from her seat and came to Adriano side. “Me too. I’m with them,” she said and wound her arm around Adriano’s arm. He looked at her with a small smile and she smiled right back at him. In her mind, it had been hard all along to completely believe that he had betrayed Ximena. She was very much fond of him in a motherly way.

Salvador rolled his eyes but remained seated. “It’s obvious by now who’s won so can we wrap up this telenovela and get going. It’s almost six and I am starving,” he droned sarcastically and everyone shot him a glare. But he just didn’t care. Typical Salvador. So, cavalier.

Emilio finally nodded his head in defeat. “Okay, I’ll allow it but young man if you dare hurt my daughter-,”

“I won’t,” Adriano cut in. “I will make it my dogma.”

“Good. Okay, I guess we’re done here.” Emilio made a move to exit but Dolores caught him by the arm.

She shook her head at him. “No, we’re staying here for dinner. A family dinner. Because that’s what we all are…a family,” she then turned to Ximena. “Anything in the kitchen that we can make?” she asked her.

“I’m sure we can whip up something,” Ximena reckoned, rubbing her chin in contemplation. “But I gotta tell you, we might not be able to make anything as good as Adriano would. He’s a pretty good cook,” she teased him and he groaned.

He bent down and hid his face in the crook of her neck. “Is embarrassing me part of some secret agreement between you and Santiago?” he whined against her skin and she giggle because it was ticklish.

She cupped his face and pecked his lips, eliciting grumbles and ‘aw’s from everybody else. “There’s nothing humiliating about being a good cook. It’s one of the things I love about you. That, and that Ferrari of yours,” she winked at him and he laughed.

“About the Ferrari, it’s all yours.”

She froze, her jaw slackening. “S-seriously?” she echoed aghast, and he nodded in confirmation. She threw her arms around his neck and began to pepper his face with kisses, saying ‘thank you’ over and over again. But alas, their moment was ruined by a clearing of the throat.

“I get that you two are in love and stuff, but we really can leave if you want to do that because I think I speak for everyone when I say gross,” Salvador remarked, and the rest of the family members nodded their heads. “Finish your make out session, and get to cooking Mr. Top Chef,” he smirked afterwards.

And so, the exciting evening commenced; the very first of many more to come.

.

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