The tension of the night still lingered as they left Alvaro’s room, their hands loosely intertwined. Jessica’s steps were slow, her emotions still raw as they reached their bedroom. Armando closed the door softly behind them, sealing them away from the outside world, if only for a little while.
Jessica sank onto the edge of the bed, her fingers playing with the hem of her sweater as her mind churned with unspoken fears. Armando knelt in front of her, his hands resting on her thighs, grounding her in the present.
“Jessica,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. He tilted his head to catch her gaze, his dark eyes softening as they met hers. “You’re not alone in this. I’m here, always. Do you believe me?”
She nodded, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I want to,” she whis
