It's a week after the incident that broke Rafael's arm and damaged Cash's body. Alba and Victoria are preparing to throw a small birthday party for Rafael, who grumbles every time he hears about it. I am helping here and there whenever I finish my work at the infirmary. The amount of men this mafia has makes me think that half of the city is in it. Many women and men come to the infirmary for checkups, even if they already know that there's nothing wrong with them. Despite the infirmary situated in the main house where we all live, all the mafia men and women are welcomed whenever they want.

I take a quick shower and dry my hair. I put it up in a bun with my brown elastic and let two strands in the front down. I spray some perfume and put on lip balm.

I wear my two-piece black blouse, wide-leg pants, and black vans.

I walk out of my bedroom and head downstairs to eat breakfast with the rest. The sound of plates clattering travel to my ears as I walk down the stairs, feeling excited to eat Victoria's breakfast. She cooks amazing food.

"Good morning," I say as I walk into the kitchen. Victoria is standing behind the stove as usual, while two other maids helping around. Alba is cutting the lettuce as she looks to be in charge of the salad.

"Good morning, darling," Victoria replies with a smile.

"What should I do?" I ask, putting one of the two strands behind my ear.

"Don't do anything, honey. Just go and join Rafael in the dining room and look pretty."

Alba breaks out laughing, dropping the knife onto the table. My cheeks turn the color of roses and I avoid looking at either of them. The back of my neck feels hot, slowly spreading to the front. My heart beats accelerate, making me feel like I am about to faint.

"Oh, I am just kidding, no need to get all red," Victoria says with a smirk.

Damn it.

"I—I'll go t-then," I stutter, embarrassing myself even more.

I quickly leave the kitchen and head toward the dining room. Excitement spread through my body for no reason.

I am not excited to see Rafael, am I?

Cash, Alex, Andrew, and Rafael are sitting on the chairs talking as they wait for the food.

"Good morning," Andrew greets me as I walk in and join them.

"Good morning," I reply, looking at everyone. The rest replied with either good morning or hey.

The seats beside Andrew and Cash are empty, but I ignore Andrew and sit beside Cash, making his face fall.

"How are you, Cash?" I ask.

"Not bad, have been better," he replies with a teasing smile.

"And your arm, Rafael?" I direct my gaze at Rafael, who was already looking at me.

"Well, a good doctor fixed me up, so I am good," he replies, making me smile.

"Oh, don't boost my ego now."

He gives me a small smile as he scratches the back of his neck.

He's being nice...

The food started coming in. When everything was placed on the table, Victoria and Alba joined us, and Manuel joined after.

"Now that Rafael took over the mafia, how about we go on a trip, mi amor?" Manuel asks as he motions for us to start eating.

"Isn't it risky, honey?"

"Well, a little bit, but we will be using fake passports and we can easily transform our look. Besides, we could go to one of the neighboring islands."

"I don't mind, but when?"

"Whenever you want, mi amor," he replies.

"Okay. We can go after Rafael's birthday."

Rafael groans, his head buried in his hands. "Do you have to make me a birthday party?"

"Yes! What kind of question is that?" His mother scolds him. "You are going to be 31, Rafa. When will you get married and give me grandchildren?"

"God, not again," he mumbles enough for us to hear.

"I have been waiting for years, Rafa."

"Well, why not wait for more?" He arrogantly asks, making her face fall.

"Fine. It's your life anyways. Live it as you wish," she sadly replies.

"I am engaged, am I not? Because you both wanted this. But having kids was not part of the deal," he claps back.

As if on cue, Carmen walks in, her heels clicking on the tiles, making a loud noise. I could see Rafael's face fall once he saw her.

"Hola!" She greets me, kissing Manuel and Victoria on the cheek, and kissing Rafael on the lips, making my blood boil somehow. "I have missed you, mi amor."

He doesn't reply, earning a glare from her. She sits beside him on the chair and starts eating as if nothing happened.

"How's your father, Carmen?" Victoria asks.

"I don't know, haven't seen him in a week," Carmen replies nonchalantly.

Victoria's face turns into a confused one, hesitantly continues eating.

"Anyways, when will be the wedding, Rafael? I know it's a private matter, but my mother has been insisting on it," Carmen says, taking everyone aback by her sudden question, especially Rafael.

He looks at her and then at his father. I see Manuel looking intently at Rafael as if knowing what he is going to do. Rafael then looks back at Carmen, who's waiting for his response, and says, "There will be no wedding, Carmen."

"What?!" Carmen exclaims, standing up. "What do you mean there's no wedding?"

"Exactly what it means," he replies, taking out his ring and placing it in the palm of her hand.

"You can't do that, Rafa! Do you know what my father will do when he hears about this?"

"What?" He asks with a nonchalant attitude.

"The deal will be off and there will be war!" she replies, making him chuckle.

"I'll be here when that happens, now leave!"

She screams angrily and storms out of the house, leaving us all in shock.

Rafael is hardly breathing and his face is red from anger. He slams his fist on the table and leaves without saying a word. I look at Manuel, who is looking at Victoria, communicating silently. I then look at Rafael's friends, only to see them smiling.

"Finally," Cash exclaims happily.

"Rafa..." Alex warns.

"I can't believe Rafael ended it. I thought he was going to marry that wench." Alba's excited voice fills the room.

"Alba!" Victoria scolds, shaking her head. "What are we going to do, Manuelito?" She asks her husband.

"Well, we are not going to do anything. It's Rafael's problem now. why don't we talk about our vacation?" He smirks, making her turn all red as usual.

"Gosh, could you guys please do it somewhere else?" Alba shyly says.

I catch Cash looking dreamily at her, but she's oblivious to his stares...or acting as if she doesn't see them. Either way, he's screwed.

After breakfast, I find Rafael in the backyard, sitting on the bench by himself. I hesitate whether to go and talk to him or not, but eventually decide to.

"Are you okay?" I ask, sitting beside him.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"I know it was fake, but you just got out of a relationship."

"I don't care," he replies.

I place my hand on top of his and squeeze a little. He looks at me once I did that and gives me a small smile, squeezing back as if thanking me.

"I admit, I hated you at first, but now you don't seem that bad," he says, making me laugh.

"Well, I hated you too, though I was excited to meet uncle's son."

"What?" I ask when he kept looking at me with a different look I have never seen before.

"Nothing, I just never realized that your blue eyes have a brown tint before. They're beautiful."

My heart does its weird dance again and I get nervous. "Thank you..." I say, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Ana..."

"Yes?"

"Can I...Can I-"

"Rafa! Pablo's on the phone!" Alex interrupts.

"What does he want?"

"He seems mad and is demanding to talk to you, most probably about his daughter."

* * *