Spoils of a Broken Heart.
Meanwhile, after the limousine pulled away from the Lopez Company, it rolled to a smooth stop in front of a high-end boutique.
Ana spun toward Victor, her eyes blazing.
"What was that all about? How could you do that to me? Embarrass me like that in front of everyone?"
Victor smirked, tapping the hood of the sleek vehicle.
"This? It's my latest baby. Pretty smooth, huh?"
Ana crossed her arms, her voice sharp.
"And how exactly is that my business? You bought a new car, congrats. But why did you have to pull that ridiculous stunt at my workplace?"
"Relax, Ana," he said, unfazed. "I did it on purpose. For you."
She let out a humorless laugh.
"For me? Really? Care to explain how publicly dragging me out like that benefits me in any way?"
Victor's tone softened, but he held his ground."I wanted to make you the center of attention. I wanted your colleagues to see you've got powerful connections. That you're not just some girl they can push around."
Ana narrowed her eyes.
"Did I ever tell you someone was bullying me? And how exactly is this_this drama_supposed to help me? And let's not forget the most important part; we're not even related!"
"Ana, you're all alone. Just you and your brother struggling through college. Your mom is sick. You've got no other family, no close friends. I'm just trying to protect you," Victor said, his voice low but firm. "It's not good to walk through this world without someone watching your back. Especially not someone strong enough to stand for you."
He stepped closer, eyes softening.
"Ana... I just want to be part of your life. Part of your family."
Her response was instant, and venom-laced.
"Never Victor."
"Never! You and Dexter is the reason why we had to live like this! To be on an exile, away from all family and friends. So forgive me when I say I don't need your help. I can manage by my self. And we don't in anyway need you Victor, so please back off!"
"Here we go again, Ana why are you always like this? I already told you I had nothing to do with your father's death, I wasn't even around when that incident happened. I was in Paris for a vacation, I was only just informed that your father stole Dexter's money and was on the run, then was being chased, and was even shut along the line, but instead of being caught he chose to sink the ship with the money. I had even gone down to that water to look for him, but I found nothing, so we all assumed he was probably being eaten by a shark or something. This has nothing to do with me I swear it Ana.
Even when Dexter said he was going to wipe out his family, I was the one that begged for you all, I did everything to keep you all safe. Ana, you know a little about Dexter right, you know he is not nice enough to just let you guys go just like that right. I've been fighting from the shadows ever since_ keeping him in check."
He exhaled heavily, ruffling his head in frustration.
"And the reason the Lopez haven't found you all this time? That's me too. You all move like you're invincible_leaving trails anyone could follow. If not for me, they would've hunted you down like prey."
"I've been the one fighting underground, Ana," Victor continued, his voice rough with emotion. "I'm the reason Dexter kept his promise to let you go. If I hadn't interfered, he would've silenced all of you_for his safety, his pride, his power."
He took a slow, shaky breath.
"And the fact that the Lopez still haven't found you? That's me too. You and your family, so careless. You left trails, signs...
You were lucky it was me tracking you instead of them. I blocked every lead, every connection. I shut it all down before it reached you."
Victor's eyes glistened, his voice falling to a whisper.
"This new identity I gave you_it hasn't been easy to maintain. The paperwork, the clean records, the digital footprints I erased. That was all me, Ana. Everything. I've protected you from the shadows while you kept throwing knives at me like I was the enemy."
He paused, searching her face, desperate for even a flicker of softness.
"Yet you crucify me_as if I'm some monster, as if I'm beyond redemption. Tell me, what do I have to do to prove myself? To earn a chance? Two years, Ana... it's been two years of me knocking on the door to your heart."
His voice cracked now.
"Why are you treating me like this? What have I done that makes me so unforgivable to you?"
"I already told you, Victor_I'm not interested," Ana said firmly, her voice cold.
"Why?" he demanded, his voice cracking. "Why, Ana? What more do you want from me?"
She turned to face him, eyes sharp.
"Because you're a criminal, Victor! You were Dexter's right-hand man. How can you possibly expect me to be with someone like that?"
Victor's shoulders slumped, but his voice didn't waver.
"I've quit. I walked away from all of it. I'm not working with Dexter anymore. I've turned a new leaf, Ana. For you. I swear, for you_I would go to the ends of the earth."
He sighed, his eyes pleading.
"Please, just let me in. If not for love, then at least for the fact that I've stuck by you. Two years, Ana. I stayed around, quietly, watching over you, hoping you'd see the truth."
He paused, voice low and filled with longing.
"You have no idea how much I want you to be mine. From the very first time I saw you_that feisty girl, eyes blazing, hell-bent on saving her family_I was drawn to you. You were only twenty-two, but you did what no one else had ever done. You won. You outsmarted Dexter. You made history."
His lips trembled slightly.
"And I told myself, if she makes it... if she really pulls this off, I'm going to make her my woman. And even if you failed_I had already decided. I wasn't going to let Dexter lay a single finger on you or your family."
He exhaled slowly, eyes glassy.
"There's something about you, Ana_something rare. You're not just any woman. You're the woman for me. And I'm not going to stop, not until you give me a real chance."
Ana turned her face away, her expression tight and unreadable.
She said nothing.
But the silence between them thundered louder than words ever could.
"Anyway," Victor sighed, trying to lighten the mood, "let me not bore you with my talk. We'll discuss it later. For now... let's get to business."
He parked the car smoothly, stepped out, and walked over to Ana's side. Gently, he opened the door for her like a gentleman out of an old movie.
Ana stepped out, only to find herself staring up at a massive, glass-fronted mall, sleek, modern, and screaming luxury. She blinked in surprise.
"What now, Victor?" she asked, already suspicious.
Victor gave her a charming wink.
"I want to spoil you a little, my queen."
Ana rolled her eyes hard enough to make her head spin, but she followed him anyway.
The day turned into a whirlwind.
First stop; the spa. Ana tried to resist, muttering protests under her breath, but Victor insisted. Soon, she was wrapped in soft white towels, lost in the magic of a top-tier massage and rejuvenating facial. Though she'd never admit it, the tension in her shoulders slowly melted.
Next; the beauty salon. Her nails were shaped and polished to glossy perfection. Her hair was washed, blown out, and styled like something from a high-fashion shoot.
Then came the boutique.
Victor went wild. He picked out designer clothes, stilettos, bags that sparkled under the lights, premium makeup kits, glittering accessories, and elegant wristwatches. He stacked boxes upon boxes of luxury items without hesitation.
"Victor, this is insane," Ana muttered, standing with her arms folded, watching him like a storm she couldn't control.
But he just smiled_boyish and proud_as if spending a fortune on her was the most natural thing in the world.
Later that day, the limousine rolled to a quiet stop in front of Ana's house.
Without a word, Ana threw the door open and stormed out, her heels clicking furiously against the pavement. She didn't even glance back.
Victor sighed, then stepped out gently, opening the trunk to begin unloading the mountain of shopping bags and boxes. But before he could lift a single one, the front door swung open and Bob came rushing out, grinning ear to ear.
"Hey, big bro!" Bob beamed, throwing his arms around Victor.
Victor chuckled and patted his back.
"What's up, man? You doing okay?"
"I'm cool!" Bob replied, still beaming.
Victor leaned back, pretending to measure his height.
"You're getting taller, huh? I swear, the last time I saw you, you were shorter. Gravity's definitely scared of you."
They both burst into laughter.
Bob quickly joined in carrying the bags, his eyes wide at the sheer volume.
"Whoa! You bought so much. Please tell me you remembered your favorite brother?" he teased.
Victor smirked.
"You have no idea. In fact, I've got a little surprise for you."
"Yay! I love surprises!" Bob said, practically bouncing.
Once everything was inside, Victor took Bob by the shoulders and led him back out, hands covering his eyes.
"Okay... wait for it... and_now."
Victor removed his hands. Parked in front of them was a sleek black Porsche, gleaming under the sun like something from a dream.
Bob's mouth dropped open.
"No freaking way!" he shouted, running toward the car like a kid on Christmas morning.
Victor tossed him the keys.
Bob caught them midair and spun toward him, stunned.
"Are you serious? This is mine?!"
Victor just nodded with a grin.
Bob ran a lap around the car, then jumped in, hands trembling as he started the engine. The deep, smooth purr of the engine filled the air_and Bob whooped with pure joy.
"This is the best day of my life!" he shouted from the driver's seat.