Moonlight Confessions
💮Angel💮
Even her cooking was divine. I didn't know the names of the dishes I was eating, but each bite was a burst of flavor.
"Wow, your food is delicious," Luca complimented, his voice full of genuine admiration.
She smiled, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
"Thank you, son," she replied warmly. "I love making these dishes, and I've had years of practice."
Luca's eyes sparked with curiosity. "Why's that?"
She glanced at Raul with a playful wink.
"Because Raul loves them, so I've made them a hundred times over."
Raul kept his gaze on his plate, but sitting close to him, I noticed the faint flush creeping up his neck.
Their easy closeness stirred a pang of envy in me.
I wished my mom could be like this. I wished she wasn't so hypocritical, so quick to judge.
Our last fight had ripped open a truth I'd been avoiding: I didn't love her because she was my mother. I loved her out of pity, out of a need to please her, out of a sense that I owed her my life.
Yes, she raised us, worked hard for us, but part of it always felt like she did it to spite Dad, not because she truly wanted to nurture us.
No matter how much it hurt, I'd never hate her. But what she said and did cut too deep to forget. Until she owned up to her mistakes, things between us would never be the same.
"Darling, are you okay?" Jazira's voice broke through my thoughts,
"Tesoro..." Raul's concerned voice followed, his hand brushing my thigh under the table, startling me.
I looked up to find all eyes on me—Luca, Bianco Raul, his mother. Their concern was definite.
I blinked back tears, forcing a small smile.
"I'm fine."
"What's wrong, sis?" Luca's voice was soft, his brow furrowed with worry. I shook my head, but their skeptical looks told me no one bought it.
"Excuse me," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I slipped away from the dining room, my feet carrying me through the sprawling mansion.
I didn't know where I was going until I found myself in the backyard, where a stunning pool shimmered under the moonlight, bordered by a quaint flower garden.
I settled at the pool's edge, letting my legs dangle in the cool water.
The moonlight cast a silvery glow across the crystal-blue surface, and the gentle night breeze sent ripples dancing.
Alone at last, I let the tears I'd been holding back spill freely. You don't need to lose a parent to death to feel the ache of their absence.
Mothers are supposed to love and support you unconditionally, but mine turned her back when I needed her most. Fathers are meant to protect and provide, but mine left me exposed to the world's cruelty far too young.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice her approach until she sat beside me. I quickly wiped my tears, embarrassed. "Jazira?"
"It's okay to cry, sweetie," she encouraged softly, her eyes fixed on the water's gentle waves. "I won't judge you."
"I'm sorry if I let the food you worked so hard on go to waste," I mumbled, guilt creeping in.
She turned to me, her sad smile catching me off guard.
"That's not the problem, sweetie. The problem is how my son reacted to your distance at dinner."
My throat tightened, and I looked away.
How could I explain that the daughter-in-law she knew wasn't here? She'd never believe I was just Raul's friend.
No man brings a friend and her brother on a family vacation while leaving his wife behind.
"I...i.—Jazira, Raul and I are just good friends. Maybe that's why he was concerned," I lied, avoiding her gaze.
Her soft chuckle pulled my attention back.
"You don't have to lie to me, darling," she murmured gently. "It's obvious you two are more than friends. No man brings 'just a friend' on a family vacation and leaves his wife at home, don't you think?"
She raised a brow, her tone kind but knowing.
I swallowed hard. There was no point in hiding it anymore—she'd see through any lie. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Jazira . I'm... I'm in a relationship with Raul."
Silence settled between us, broken only by the soft lapping of the pool, the distant chirping of crickets, and the whisper of the breeze.
My heart raced as I waited for her judgement.
"What now, Jazira?" I asked, my voice trembling as tears streamed down my face.
"Are you going to hate me? Throw shade at me? Kick me out of your mansion and your son's life?"
She fell silent at first, her quiet pause setting my nerves on edge with fear.
"I won't do any of that, Angel," she said, her voice stripped of emotion. I searched her face, but like Raul's unreadable eyes, hers gave nothing away.
"I can't blame you for who I was," she continued, her voice soft but heavy.
Tears glistened on her cheeks, catching me by surprise.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
She smiled faintly. Her once bring eyes, now dimmed.
"I was Raul's father's mistress before we got married," she stated quietly.
My eyes widened—I hadn't expected that.
"Yes, Angel," she went on, her voice steady but laced with pain. "I was his mistress. The difference is, he already had a child with his wife."
I stared at her, speechless.
She played with the water as she spoke, her story unfolding like the ripples beneath her fingers.