Juliana smiled. "I know." "I don't think you do." She laughed softly. "I do." He shook his head. "I love you enough to dream about our future." Her heart skipped. "Our future?" "I've thought about marrying you." She covered her mouth, smiling through tears. "I've imagined having children with you someday." Her eyes widened. "You have?" He chuckled quietly. "More times than I'd like to admit." She laughed. "What are they like?" "Our imaginary children?" "Yes." Andrew smiled. "They definitely inherit your stubbornness." She burst into laughter. "They'd inherit yours too." "I sincerely hope not." "They would." "I pity our future teachers." The laughter lingered between them until it slowly faded. Andrew's expression became serious once again. "But listen to me." Juliana nodded. "I never want our future children to carry the weight of fixing our problems." She listened quietly. "I want them to be welcomed because they're

There was no pretending, no dramatic phone calls, no suspicious meetings. Hours slipped by... Raphael watched as Andrew answered video calls, took notes, occasionally smiled politely at colleagues on the screen, and even helped an elderly tourist who appeared lost by giving directions in fluent Spanish. The old couple thanked him warmly before continuing on their way. Andrew simply returned to work. Raphael found himself unconsciously checking the time. Three hours. The foreigner never left the bench except to refill his coffee. He wasn't meeting Marcelo's men. He wasn't hiding weapons. He wasn't plotting anything. He was... working. Raphael leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "Damn it..." He hadn't wanted to see this. Because it complicated everything. It was easier to hate a man who refused to change. Much harder to hate one who was genuinely trying. Back at the estate, Juliana wandered through the kitchen, helping one of the older cooks

The afternoon sun hung low over Mexico City, casting long shadows across the streets as Juliana Andreas guided her car through the familiar roads leading toward Andrew's hotel. She had told Raphael exactly where she was going. As expected, he hadn't been pleased. "Two hours," he had said firmly, leaning against her car before she left the estate. "No detours." She smiled innocently. "I know." "You'll keep your phone on." "I know." "You'll answer every call." "I know." Raphael narrowed his eyes. "And if I don't hear from you—" "You'll come looking for me." He gave a small nod. "Damn right I will." Juliana laughed softly before reaching through the open window to squeeze his hand. "You're the best big brother." Raphael sighed dramatically. "I know." "Drive safely, pequeña." "I will." As the gates of the Andreas estate closed behind her, Juliana couldn't help smiling. Despite everything, Raphael never stopped protecting her. She only wish

By the time Juliana's car pulled through the imposing iron gates of the Andreas estate, dusk had settled over the city. The mansion stood proudly beneath the amber glow of the evening lights, guarded as heavily as ever. Normally, returning home filled Juliana with relief. Today... she had a strange feeling in her chest. As though someone was waiting. She switched off the engine and stepped out, smoothing the wrinkles from her blouse before reaching for the container Andrew had insisted she bring back. A smile lingered on her lips as she remembered him joking about learning to cook Mexican food just to impress her father someday. "You'll poison him before you impress him," she had teased. "Then I'll practice until I don't." The memory drew another quiet laugh from her. She had barely climbed the front steps when the large entrance doors opened. Raphael was the first person she saw. He wasn't smiling. Behind him stood Emiliano, leaning casually against one of

The Andreas estate had long fallen silent by the time Emiliano's black SUV rolled through the front gates. The fountain in the center courtyard continued its endless rhythm, while security personnel exchanged respectful nods as he parked and stepped out. Normally, Emiliano would have headed straight to his room after returning late. Tonight... His feet carried him elsewhere. He needed to speak to Raphael. Immediately. He found his elder brother exactly where he expected him to be, in the estate's study, seated behind a large mahogany desk with several files spread before him. Raphael looked up as the door opened without a knock. One look at Emiliano's face and he knew something had happened. "You found him." It wasn't a question. Emiliano shut the door behind him. "I did." Raphael slowly closed the folder in front of him. "And?" "I traced him to one of his usual clubs." Raphael gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Sit." "I'm too angry to sit."