CHAPTER THREE
1125 Words
“Maybe she didn’t love him.”
Lucia looked up sharply from her cup. She hadn’t expected that, not after laying Antonio’s heartbreak story on a platter.
“Don't talk nonsense,” she replied without smiling.
“I’m serious,” Estelle said, straightening a little in her chair. “I never felt as if they had a grand passion”
“A grand passion?” Lucia blinked, surprised by her sister’s phrasing.
“You know…” Estelle’s voice softened, perhaps a little thoughtful now. “The kind of love that burns you up. It doesn’t exist between them.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I just am,”
“What does a grand passion look like then?” Lucia’s lips curved faintly with no sign of amusement.
“It's marvelous!” Estelle said, smiling wistfully. She dragged her hand dramatically to her chest in mock performance. “It's irrational, completely nonsensical. It turns you inside out until you can’t think straight.”
“Maybe you’re the one not thinking straight.” Lucia rolled her eyes, standing up this time and heading towards the counter where she had dropped her phone earlier.
The morning light had mellowed into a pale gold that slipped through the tall dining room windows.
Breakfast had come and gone hours ago, but neither of them had moved far from the table. Estelle toyed with the spoon by the plate, “You know I’m right,” she said in that teasing tone she always used when trying to lighten Lucia’s mood.
Lucia ignored her, scrolling through her phone. There was nothing to read, nothing she hadn’t already seen. She wasn’t really looking for anything. Maybe just a distraction from whatever her sister was saying.
“You’re thinking about him again,” Estelle continued. Perhaps she really wanted to have this conversation with Lucia.
“I’m not.”
“You know…. You are”
Lucia’s fingers stilled over the screen. “You think too much, Estelle.” “Just let me be.”
“And you feel too much,” her sister countered softly.
Lucia turned to look at her, but before she could respond, the sound of a car door shutting outside interrupted her.
Both sisters turned toward the window instinctively.
Moments later, the front door opened, and voices followed. First, it was a deep kind, and then another, which was lighter, but both were familiar.
“Who’s that?” Estelle asked, wondering who they might be.
Lucia didn’t answer, but something in her chest tightened when she recognized it. Then came the sound of footsteps, which were confident and deliberate. They gave off the kind of energy that only came from Cesar Mendoza.
“Oh, my beautiful Julia! We meet again,” Cesar said with a smile that puts you at ease while putting out his arms for an embrace.
Lucia froze.
From the archway, they both saw him stride in. He was a tall and composed man with that easy charm that he always had with him.
Cesar had been a business partner of the Morantes for years now. Their partnership became a relationship that went from business deals to family gatherings, and now, they are about to be in-laws in a few days.
He held a bottle of red wine, which was half-raised as if it were an offering, and beside him stood Elena, his daughter.
For a moment, everything inside Lucia went still. On the other hand, Estelle battled with the thoughts running loudly up there.
“How could she be here?” she whispered through clenched teeth, and this made Lucia shoot her warning look.
Lucia wasn’t always peaceful, but at the moment, choosing war would be unwise.
“Cezahrr..the man of the people,” Julia said out loud as she noticed his presence. “It's so nice to see you again.”
Julia had just walked out of the kitchen, where she spends half her day making cooking vlogs for YouTube. She was an online chef who cooked mostly for fun, but her amazing recipes went viral one time, and everything changed after that.
What started as short clips of her casually stirring sauces and laughing at her own mistakes suddenly became something bigger. An audience, a brand, a following that hung on her every upload.
“My daughter was whispering a while ago, but I told her she was home, isn’t she, Julia?” Cesar said smirking
“Of course she is.”
“Hmmm,” He said while setting down the bottle of wine he brought from home and finally leaning in for a hug. “For you, my dear…A little something from our vineyard, you’ll love it.”
Julia’s laughter floated lightly, oblivious to the unease coiling around her daughters. “Thank you, Cesar…I love Casa Madero,” she said, smiling sheepishly while Cesar took a step forward and kissed the back of her left hand.
Apparently, Julia had invited the Mendozas for dinner, and no one was aware of that. Well, until now.
Things were not going as planned. After Lucia had tried to convince Antonio to come break the news to the family, Elena showed up with her Father for dinner.
What if Antonio shows up? What if she decides to break the news herself? Or has she done that with her father already? Was that why they were here tonight?
Lucia sighed, feeling her stomach twist.
She had always found Cesar’s charm excessive, but tonight it was worse. Too polished, too deliberate. And with Elena, standing beside her father looking as though she’d rather vanish into the marble floor, Lucia knew this night would not end well. Maybe not as bad as she thinks, but not well either.
Cesar was talking, but Lucia barely heard him. She watched his gestures, either.
He had the practised grace of a man who had spent years in important rooms, saying just enough and never too much.
Lucia finally stood slowly. Not because she wanted to, but because she felt it was the only thing to do since words were failing her.
“Buenas noches, señor César. Qué gusto verlo otra vez.” Since English wasn’t working, maybe Spanish would.
Cesar turned to her with that signature smirk, “Ah, Lucia,” he said with a small nod. “Siempre tan elegante.”
“Gracias,” she murmured, giving him a brief, polite nod.
Lucia’s gaze slid to Elena, who managed an uncertain smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hello, Lucia,” Elena barely said
Lucia inclined her head with an unreadable expression, “Oh hii…Elena..”
Right next to her, Estelle remained seated. Her expression was making no effort to hide her disapproval, and everyone could see that.
- Writer
