What she didn't know was that Rafael had returned a few moments ago. He'd entered quietly, not wanting to interrupt the call. But as he paused near the hallway, Mara's voice drifted to him.
He froze.
Her words weren't dramatic or grand. They weren't declarations. But they were honest. Warm. Real.
"He holds a special place in my heart." And just like that, something shifted in him.
He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but what he heard made the late-night pharmacy run, the half-spilled cookies, and all the sleepless hours worth it.
In the living room, Mara still hadn't noticed him. "I'm not ready to define anything," she continued. "But I'm not afraid anymore either."
Behind her, Rafael leaned on the doorway with a soft smile and a heartbeat that felt just a little steadier than it had yesterday.
Steve spotted him first.
"Ohhh... someone just caught that, didn't he?" he sang-songed like a middle-schooler.
