Page 60 of Consequence of One Reckless Night

“Carlos didn’t get your brother a perfect bride,” she reminded him, hoping her words would offer him some consolation. “Ana refused to marry Leandro and he got saddled with me. Boring, mousy Raquel, unwanted by her own mother. I think you should be glad that your grandfather didn’t arrange a marriage for you,” she laughed, self-deprecatingly through her tears. “You would have ended up with an unwilling bride.”

Alexandre pulled her to him, tilting up her chin so she had to look at him. “You are not boring or mousy, Raquel,” he was quick to shoot down her insecurities. “You are an intelligent, sexy woman who I care deeply about. And I’m proud to call you my wife.”

It was as close to a declaration of love she would get out of him, Raquel realized as she cupped his face before kissing him on the lips. She may never get to hear the word ‘love’ on his lips, but she would take whatever he was willing to offer her, because she loved him with all her heart.

****

The next morning, theywent back to the mainland, both relieved and happy for having shared the most intimate of their feelings and emotions with each other. It was an emotional night but cathartic, nonetheless, bringing them closer than ever before.

Raquel began to enjoy her marriage as they settled into an easy and wonderful partnership, with restful days followed by passionate nights.

Her baby began making its presence known as her bump grew and the morning sickness gradually abated. The thought of motherhood though, initially terrified her, she was confident that with Alexandre by her side, she would manage just fine.

In the first month of their marriage, her brother flew down for a visit. Ana accompanied Arcanjo, and the three of them had a wonderful day together, followed by a memorable dinner with Alexandre, who her brother pronounced was a decent man, much to his relief.

Her sister, Tahlia and their mother, however, remained distant, though they did arrange for her clothes and personal effects to be delivered to her. It hurt her deeply that her sister and mother nursed a grudge against her, despite her various attempts at getting back together.

Alexandre, however, thought it was for the best. “People who don’t care about us, we don’t need them in our lives,” he told her one night when she confessed to him that Tahlia’s silence hurt her more than her mother’s rejection of her.

Six weeks into their marriage, on a Friday night as she relaxed on the patio after dinner, Raquel opened the envelope that had been hand delivered to her earlier that day. It was an invitation from the Monteiros—an invitation for lunch the following day at the family’s mansion in Pérola.

Her first thought was to decline. Alexandre was out of the country on business, and she was reluctant to face the Monteiros on her own. The last time she’d visited the family home, things had gone horribly wrong. She remembered Erica’s angry tirade that had echoed in the grand dining room, Leandro’s kindness to her and—her life-changing encounter with Alexandre.

It was a night of painful and shocking discoveries. A night that had forever changed the trajectory of her life. A night that had brought her wonderful lover back to her, leading to their hurried wedding.

As she sat out on the patio of Alexandre’s seaside house on Pérola, she deliberated calling him. Their seaside home wasn’t as ostentatious as the mansion on the mainland, but Raquel loved it and Alexandre had been more than happy to make it their permanent home. He chose to commute to the mainland for work while she dedicated herself to making the three-bedroom house, their home.

She spent all her time manicuring a flower garden in front of the house and planting a vegetable garden in the back. They didn’t have an army of servants here—just a housekeeper who took care of the cooking and cleaning, which Raquel too, helped with, and a gardener who worked the gardens. She spent her free time at the orphanage, helping the staff with their many chores, and conducting violin classes for the children on the weekends.

Her mother’s prolonged silence extinguished what little hope for reconciliation she’d had. But the invitation from Carlos, was it an indication that the Monteiros were finally ready to accept her into their family?

Though he spoke with Leandro often, Raquel knew that Alexandre hadn’t spoken to Carlos since their wedding. Carlos’s rejection of him hurt Alexandre badly, although he never spoke about it. Perhaps with this invitation, his family was showing their willingness to forget the past and forge a new relationship with them? After all, she was carrying the next generation of the Monteiro clan in her womb.

Would Alexandre be okay with her accepting the invitation? Or would he disapprove? She wasn’t sure of Alexandre’s reaction, but she couldn’t turn down Carlos, either. It would be rude of her to turn her back on what could be a white flag.

So she decided to visit the Monteiro home without informing Alexandre. If things went well, then she would tell him herself. But if things went south... well she would deal with the repercussions then.

****

The following afternoonwhen Raquel arrived at the Monteiro mansion, to her consternation, it was Leandro she saw first. Having never had the chance to apologize to him for the grief she caused him, Raquel immediately sought to make amends.

Leandro, who was on his way out to meet someone, stopped when he saw her. “Raquel! How are you? Is my brother treating you well?”

“Yes,” she answered, feeling guilty for having deceived this man who was kind to her despite everything she’d done. “I never got to apologize, Leandro.”

He frowned. “Apologize for what?”

“For what I did... marrying Alexandre when I...” She looked away as shame stung her cheeks.

“Don’t be,” he assured her. “You are better suited to my brother. I see how happy he is with you.”

Raquel’s gaze returned to him, her eyes searching his face, but she saw no latent anger or regret. He seemed genuinely pleased that she’d chosen Alexandre.

“I never meant to embarrass you like I did. I’m sorry, Leandro.”

He shook his head. “These things happen and I’m glad my brother has finally found someone to love.”

Leandro’s words stayed with her long after he’d gone. Why did he think Alexandre loved her? Had the brother’s discussed Alexandre’s feelings for her?

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