Devoted Love, Mr. Hayes’ Darling Wife

Estrella Berrocal had never thought that there was such a layer of connection between her and Adán Rouco.

Estrella Berrocal looked at him, “If I hadn’t left in the hospital and met you, do you think we would have turned out differently?”

Adán Rouco frowned slightly, unimpressed by her question.

A different result? I didn’t think so…

“If I had met you then, maybe we would have married sooner, without having to wait three years, and as for the denouement, it could only exist in one way, and that would have been to marry me and become Mrs. Rouco, but it was only a matter of whether it was sooner or later.”

His tone was calm, but firm and unquestioning.

Paulita, who was sitting next to him, covered her big, slitted eyes with her two little hands and milked her displeasure, “Huh …. Daddy is so carnal!”.

Adán Rouco and Estrella Berrocal froze and could not help but look at each other with a smile.

Adán Rouco lifted Paulita from the sofa and picked up with one hand the little girl’s school bag that had been left on the floor. “Go do your homework.”

Paulita threw her arms around Adán Rouco’s neck and waved her little legs in the air: “I don’t want to! Papa made me do my homework as soon as I arrived! Daddy, do you want me to do something improper with Estrella?”.

Estrella Berrocal: “…”

Adán Rouco looked sternly at the little girl and schooled her, “Where did you learn to think like a three-year-old?”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Hmph! I’m not three anymore! Grandpa says Paulita will be four in a few days, at Christmas! A girl who knows how to behave!”

Adán Rouco ignored the little girl and left her in the studio.

When Estrella Berrocal cut a plate of fruit and brought it to the studio, she saw the two grandparents sitting together.

The older one was looking at his laptop, his face a bit serious, working on his work, and the younger one was sitting next to him, drawing on a piece of paper with a watercolor pen, his two little legs waving in the air, occasionally scratching his face with his little hands or looking at Adán Rouco’s laptop.

Estrella Berrocal did not disturb the two of them, but instead picked up the fruit tray, gently closed the study door behind her and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Normally, Adán Rouco had a weak stomach and a light diet, and Paulita was always with Roberto Rouco at La Villa Rouco, so even when the house was open, Estrella Berrocal would only cook an informal dinner.

Today, Roberto Rouco brought Paulita, the little girl loves ribs and strawberry cream pie, and Estrella Berrocal went ahead to buy many of the ingredients.

Who will make Paulita’s ribs and strawberry shortcake when she’s away?

Unconsciously, Estrella Berrocal’s hand paused as she chopped the vegetables.

Even if she leaves in a few days, Felipa will be at La familia Rouco to cook for Paulita. Besides, the old man loves Paulita so much that no one will cook for her what she wants to eat.

The old man had said he was only asking her to leave The Holy City and go away for a season, not that they would never let her come back.

Estrella Berrocal’s hand gripped the handle of the knife, but she could no longer cut, and her eyes hurt a little.

I vaguely feared that there was no way or reason to return to The Holy City.

Just as Estrella Berrocal froze, a small hand suddenly tugged at the corner of her coat: “Estarola!”.

Estrella Berrocal looked down, “Paulita, what’s wrong?”

“Star, I’m hungry, is there anything good to eat?”

Estrella Berrocal brought him the plate of freshly cut fruit, “Eat some fruit first and in a moment I’ll make you a strawberry tart”.

“Yes! We’re going to have strawberry shortcake later! And Estrella, remember to put a little more cream and chocolate hazelnut spread on it!”.

Estrella Berrocal rubbed the little boy’s head, “Okay, bring the fruit plate and eat with daddy.”

“Yes!”

…

After dinner, Paulita asked Adán Rouco and Estrella Berrocal to watch cartoons with her.

Paulita sat crookedly between the two adults, with her little head resting on Adán Rouco’s arms for a while, and then moved to Estrella Berrocal’s side and watched the cartoons in rapt attention.

Adán Rouco’s long arm is over the sofa and around Estrella Berrocal’s shoulder, nonchalantly embracing mother and daughter.

Only when Paulita’s mood passes and she falls asleep on Adán Rouco’s lap does he turn off the TV and get up with the little girl in his arms, sighing as he goes upstairs to his bedroom: “The little girl is finally asleep, with all the homework the teacher has put in and an hour of cartoons for the parents. ”

Estrella Berrocal thought it was a good task and said quietly, “My mother left early and I wanted my father to stay with me when I was little, but he was so busy at work that I knew he was sacrificing his time for the sake of the family and to support me, but I still felt lost, especially since my father married Doria Guillén. Guillén, and although he still loved me, I always felt that he had divided his love between Doria and Guillén, and I used to sit alone by the window and think, “I wish my mother were still here.”

Adán Rouco put Paulita to bed, tucked her in, went to her, kissed her on the forehead and said softly: “You have been with me for so long and you still think of all the bad things that happened in the past.

Estrella Berrocal smiled, put her arms around his waist, rubbed his head against her chest and said, “It just occurred to me, now I am very happy, because of you, there are so many people who care for me and are good to me. Adam, it’s all because of you, so I dare to be grateful to you.”

“So many people?” Adán Rouco frowned slightly, a little suspiciously.

“Yes. You see, apart from you, Paulita worries about me, who is so young, and even defends me in front of outsiders. And dad, although on the surface he doesn’t seem to accept me or like me very much, I can actually feel it, he still protects me.”

Adam Rouco laughed, “If the old man could hear you say that, he’d probably like you even more, he’s a man, he’s always been nasty on the side.”

Estrella Berrocal buried her eyes in his shoulder and closed them. “He’s doing it for our sake, too.”

Adán Rouco gave her an indifferent “hmm” and suddenly lifted her up in his arms. “If you give her another grandchild, she will worship you like a goddess.”

Estrella Berrocal was filled with melancholy but couldn’t help but laugh lightly, “Is it that dramatic?”.

“Do you try?”

“I’m not trying to.” Estrella Berrocal blushed.

Adam Rouco led her into the master bedroom and the two of them plopped down on the large, fluffy bed, Adam Rouco’s gaze was smoldering as he gazed down at her beneath him, his voice husky and magnetic, “Mrs. Rouco, it’s too late to regret being on the boat.”

“Mmmm…”

In the tangle, Estrella Berrocal opened her eyes slightly and stared at the face of the man in front of her for a long, long time.

Adam Rouco, sensing this, also opened his eyes and looked at her, asking against her forehead, “Why are you looking at me?”

Estrella Berrocal wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her lips close to his again: “I just miss you”.

“You don’t want to sleep tonight, huh?”.

“Mmm. …”