Judith
I crossed the line… I just crossed it.
I placed my hands over my face and broke into tears—a bitter, heartbreaking cry. I had ruined everything. All this attraction I felt for Mel, this desire eating me from the inside, had finally overflowed. And I had been just one step away from being with her.
But her gaze… that gaze stopped me. That plea made me come to my senses when I heard: "Please… ask me to stop… Tell me to stop, Judith… Because I can't anymore." In that moment, I understood that if we continued, I would destroy her.
"What have you done, Judith Preston?" I murmured, my voice choked, trembling.
I couldn't help but remember the document Mel's grandfather had given me, containing all her information. There was a question written between the lines, almost like a prophecy disguised as coincidence:
"Do you like blonde women with green eyes, physically attractive, who will make you feel protected, safe, and loved?"
At the time, I didn't understand why he had put that question there. But now… now I understand it completely.
The first time I read that question, I couldn't help but look at Mel, even if only for a fraction of a second, boldly tracing her face, her neck, her perfect figure. I felt my skin burn just thinking about her. Yes, she was beautiful. So beautiful that anyone would lose their mind. But it wasn't just her body that attracted me… it was what she made me feel. Mel made me feel safe, protected, loved, even when she didn't realize it. Her actions spoke for her, with a sweetness and strength I couldn't deny.
And now… what am I going to do?How will I stop this desire that grows uncontrollably inside me?How will I stop seeking her with my eyes every time she enters the room?How will I pretend that nothing happened, that her lips didn't brush mine, that my body doesn't crave her with every fiber?
"Tell me, Mel," I whispered to the empty room, my soul in pieces, "how am I supposed to stop myself?"
The only thing I can think of right now is to pretend nothing happened… pretend I've forgotten and blame the alcohol. Maybe that's the most sensible thing. But not only that: I have to keep up appearances, just as we've been doing from the beginning. How ironic, right? I, who taught you to pretend, now have to do it too. Pretend that this means nothing, that it's just a simple attachment born from living together, and not the start of something deeper. From the fact that I like you.
Now, just like you, I'll have to measure my gestures, my words, my glances. I'll have to learn not to let my feelings slip—not just in front of others… but also in front of you, Mel.
Mel didn't come back that night. My mind kept circling the thought that she must feel confused about what happened. And how wouldn't she, if her "fake wife" had kissed her while drunk? She must feel awful, even guilty, thinking that I had disrespected her and her relationship with Amber. But if anyone should feel terrible about all this, it was me.
Because not only did I confuse Mel, making her carry guilt she didn't deserve, but I also betrayed Amber… I deceived her.
Nothing I do is fair—neither to Mel nor to Amber.
The next day, with a mild headache from the hangover, I took my car and drove to the apartment where Amber lived—the one we had shared, and that now belonged only to her.
During the drive, I kept repeating to myself that there was no excuse, no justification for what I did. I had betrayed the person I loved, and that was something I could never undo. The only thing left was to face the truth, to tell her what happened, even knowing that it could make me lose her forever.
My heart felt so heavy I could barely breathe. When I opened the apartment door, the familiar scent of the place hit me hard. I saw Amber painting, focused, her hair tied in a messy bun. There was a flash when I looked at her—a figure that seemed out of place—but it vanished before I could recognize it.
"Love," she said, smiling sweetly as she approached.She kissed me, but I… didn't respond. I couldn't.
Amber pulled back just a few inches and looked at me, immediately noticing the tension.I lowered my gaze, unable to meet her eyes. With tears gathering on my lashes, I let out the inevitable:
"I kissed Mel…" I confessed, my voice breaking as tears fell uncontrollably.
Amber stayed silent for a few seconds, confused, trying to process my words. Then her expression changed: sadness, disappointment, anger. All of it mingled on her face in a devastating way.
"You assured me nothing would ever happen between you and her… and now you're telling me that…" She didn't finish the sentence, swallowing her sobs with visible effort.
"I'm sorry, Amber… I didn't mean to deceive you," I sobbed, barely able to speak.
The words hung in the air like a painful echo. The silence that followed was crueler than any scream.
"Did you sleep with her?" Amber asked, clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"No… I didn't," I assured her, my voice trembling.
"But you wanted to," she retorted, her tone breaking with a disappointment so deep it pierced my chest.
I remained silent. And that silence… was enough for Amber to understand the truth.Her eyes filled with tears, and I could see her struggling not to let them fall.
"Amber, forgive me… I love you," I confessed, stepping toward her.
"No, Judith! Don't even say that," she shouted, her voice broken with pain. "Because a person who loves doesn't think about sleeping with someone else—never!"
"Amber, forgive me," I begged, taking her hand, but she pulled it away sharply."Amber, I'm sorry. I was wrong, I was confused, but I'll fix it…"
"What are you going to fix, Judith? Are you going to turn back time so you won't have kissed her?" she asked, raising her voice, a knot of anger and sadness in her throat. "Are you going to divorce her so you can say that? No, right! You're going to stay with her, keep deceiving me… if you haven't already."
"I never cheated on you!" I assured desperately. "I'm just… just confused," I whispered weakly, feeling something inside me break.
"Well, then keep being confused, Judith," she replied, tears filling her eyes. "So don't call me again until you know who you really want: her or me."
I grabbed her hand again, desperate, fearing that if I let go, I would lose her forever.
"I like her… but I love you, Amber," I said through sobs.
Amber looked at me incredulously, the pain in her eyes turning into repulsion."You are shameless and bold, Judith," she whispered bitterly before breaking free from my grasp.
She slammed the door so hard the walls shook. And with that sharp blow, my hope disappeared too.
I was left alone in the silent apartment, feeling guilt devour me alive. Frustration weighed heavily on my chest, tears ran uncontrollably, and my whole body trembled. I don't know how much time passed, only that when I ran out of tears, I returned to the residence with my soul in pieces.
To make matters worse, Mel had also gone… this time out of town. Nicholas informed me that she had left a message: she needed to help her grandfather at the Hawaii branch because of an urgent issue.
I wanted to believe it; I needed to.I just thought: it must be true… she wouldn't lie to me, would she?
Mel returned with her grandfather the same day her parents came back from their cruise.More than two weeks had passed without hearing from Amber. I tried calling her several times, but she always rejected my calls. Well… what did I expect? That she would run into my arms? That wasn't an option.
"Mrs. Judith," Nicholas called from the doorway.
"Yes, Nicholas? What is it?" I asked, getting up from the sofa where Mel had slept, trying to appear calm.
"Miss Mel has returned with her grandfather, and her parents are also here at the residence," he informed me in his usual respectful tone.
That only meant one thing: it was time to resume our charade.I had to hide again that I liked Mel, pretend that everything was fine, and that there was nothing between us but friendship. How exhausting this was going to be.
"I'll come down now," I told him.
Nicholas nodded and left the room, leaving me alone for a few seconds. I took a deep breath, trying to gather the courage that slipped away with every sigh.
And then I heard her voice.
"Are you ready?" Mel asked.
I quickly turned my head. She was there, standing, a half-smile on her lips. That simple expression was enough to send my heart racing. It was all I needed to find the strength to face her family.
"I am now," I replied, forcing a smile I barely managed to hold.
I approached her. Mel extended her hand to take mine, and I didn't hesitate for a second. Feeling the brush of her skin was a dangerous reminder of everything I was trying to hide.
At first glance, she didn't seem upset or uncomfortable. She looked calm, even unconcerned. Perhaps what had happened that day hadn't mattered to her. Why would it? I had been drunk… and she probably considered it a fleeting mistake.
"You already know my parents, so there's nothing to worry about," she said cheerfully. "Besides, it seems they returned even more in love." She smiled, and her happiness was like a stab in my chest.
"Did you go see them?" I asked as we walked toward the living room.
"You could say that," she replied naturally. "Although I should warn you, today we're going to the country house."
"Wait… what? Right now? So we're going to pick up my parents?" I asked incredulously.
"They're actually being picked up as we speak," she informed me calmly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
I felt a knot in my stomach. Not only would I have to continue playing the role of a wife, but I'd have to do it surrounded by the whole family… and with Mel so close, pretending nothing was happening between us.
"And when were you planning on telling me?" I looked at her for a few seconds, frowning, trying to keep my composure.
I had to relax immediately because right in front of us were Mel's parents and grandfather, watching us with curiosity and kind smiles.
"I just found out too," she murmured sweetly. "Judith, relax… we practiced, remember?" she whispered conspiratorially, barely moving her lips.
Mel squeezed my hand gently, and that was when I realized I was the one holding hers too tightly, betraying my nerves.Her gesture was warm, almost protective, and amid all the tension, that small touch anchored me.
What Mel didn't anticipate was that I was already beginning to forget how to behave. And no one—absolutely no one—had warned us that the famous country house was in Alaska.
On the plane to that icy place, Mel's grandfather took the floor enthusiastically:
"I heard the Preston family likes to ski, so I thought we could spend this week getting to know each other in nature… well, with a little snow on it," he joked with a deep laugh. "Also, it's a perfect climate for chatting over a cup of coffee or hot chocolate," he added warmly.
The Preston family skis once a year, I thought to myself. Just two days, no more.I smiled, trying to look relaxed.
Puedes ayudarme a traducir un libro a ingles pero que no se pierda nada del hilo de la historia y por favor traducelo bien sin perder la esencia de la historia. "Judith, darling, you don't need to be nervous around us," Mel's mother said with a sweet smile.
She had the same smile as her daughter, although Mel's was softer, more radiant. I found myself thinking about it unconsciously… and smiling as well.
"It's normal to be nervous," Mel's father commented. "The first time I met my in-laws, I was nervous too," he added in a friendly tone that made me smile genuinely.
In the end, he gave me a reassuring look, and for a moment, I felt like I could breathe.
"Mel, darling, did you bring your pills?" my mother-in-law asked, slightly worried.
"Pills?" I asked incredulously, looking at both of them.
"Mel is allergic to the cold," her mother explained, leaving my mind blank for a few seconds.
"Then we shouldn't go!" I exclaimed almost in panic. "Something could happen to Mel!"
My mother-in-law only smiled, with a maternal patience that disarmed me.
"Don't worry, darling. If Mel takes her allergy medicine every day, she'll be fine," Mel's mother assured me gently. "Honey, did you bring them?" she asked again, looking at her intently.
Mel didn't answer. And that could only mean one thing.
"You forgot, Melissa, your pills!" I scolded her without restraint, forgetting that we were in front of her parents.
"I'll buy them when we land," she replied, slightly scared, without taking her eyes off me.
I think I overreacted because Mel looked at me with that expression of hers that said, "Why are you so worked up?" while her parents and grandfather held back laughter.
Even so, I couldn't help feeling upset. It was her health, and I couldn't bear to see her in danger.
The irritation turned into worry as soon as we arrived in Alaska. In the car, while we waited for Mel's father and grandfather to buy the medication, I noticed her nose was very red, and her skin was starting to take on a pale bluish tint. The allergy… was already reacting.
Mel's mother got out of the car and sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, can you breathe?" she asked, clearly concerned.
Mel nodded weakly.
"Try to breathe slowly, darling. Your father and grandfather will be back with the medicine soon," her mother said, trying to stay calm.
I took her hand and felt the ice-cold skin. She was so cold it sent a shiver through me. I placed my other hand on her nose and noticed her shallow, weak breaths. Each inhalation was an effort.
Without thinking, I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned toward her, distressed to see that every passing second was weakening her more.
"If she's allergic to the cold, we have to keep her warm," I said urgently. "Maybe there's a blanket to cover her head and keep her heat in."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, there isn't one," Frederick, the driver, replied tensely.
Mel began to breathe more difficultly. Without thinking, I took off my coat—a thick, long one, almost like a blanket—and put it over her.
"It's cold, you need it," I whispered between gasps, as if I had run three marathons non-stop.
"Shut up, Mel," I asked softly, frowning.
Without waiting for her approval, I covered her head with the coat, trying to trap the warm air inside. Then I got under it with her, getting close enough to feel her weak breaths brush against my cheek.
I could hear her racing heartbeat and the faint tremble of her lips.
Mel's mother, visibly upset now, took her phone and called her husband to ask where they were. Mel was really struggling. I don't know what he said, but the woman's expression changed completely; her voice filled with firmness, almost fury.
"Run, right now!" she ordered imperatively before hanging up.
Five long minutes passed that felt like an eternity. Mel was breathing with difficulty, though gradually she seemed to stabilize. Her face was still pale, but she no longer gasped so heavily. I touched her face to make sure she was conscious, though she turned slightly, avoiding my contact. Perhaps it was just discomfort from the lack of air.
Finally, her grandfather and father returned hurriedly, with the medication in hand. As soon as she took the pill, we left the little refuge I had improvised with my coat. Within a few minutes, color began to return to her face, and by the time we approached the house, she was breathing normally again.
Before reaching the residence, Mel's mother spoke again:
"Honey, take the medicine," she said, looking at me intently.
Mel reached out to take it, but her mother didn't hand it to her.
"I'll give it to your wife," she clarified, with a calm yet authoritative voice.
Mel opened her eyes in disbelief as her mother handed me the pill bottle.
"Please, don't forget to give it to her," she asked with a smile that tried to soften the command.
"Mom, that's not necessary," Mel protested, offended.
"This is the sixth time you've forgotten," she reminded her patiently, though without losing her firm tone.
"Did she just say the sixth time?" I turned my face and saw Mel frowning at me. How can she forget her medication six times? I thought, annoyed.
"I think it's fine for Judith to make sure she takes them," her grandfather intervened, approving the decision.
"Honey, it's for the best," her father added. "That way we won't have to worry so much or wonder whether you've taken your medication or not."
Mel's mother turned to look at her one last time."And I'm not asking you, Mel. I'm just informing you that Judith will handle it," she stated in an authoritative voice.
Mel didn't respond. I knew her well enough to see she was holding herself back. Her mother was not a woman to be contradicted.
When we finally arrived at the residence, with Mel already recovered, my parents were waiting inside. The moment I saw them, I ran to hug them with relief and excitement. Behind me, the others kept a polite distance, exchanging greetings, though the tense smiles and glances said far more than words ever could.
The atmosphere, cordial as it seemed, was charged with silent tension… one that even the Alaska cold couldn't hide.
We had only been together for two hours, yet it felt like months. The air wasn't getting lighter, but it wasn't getting tenser either; it was a false calm, as if any word could spark an explosion. I felt like I was in the middle of a minefield: say the wrong thing, and everything would blow up.
The only ones who didn't hide their displeasure were our mothers. Mine watched Mel with an intensity that could have cut the air, while Mel's mother looked at mine with the same disdain, as if defending her daughter with her gaze.
On the side of my father and Mel's, the conversation was much more relaxed. They talked about sports, what they had practiced in college, and youth anecdotes. That's when I learned that my father-in-law had been a versatile athlete; suddenly it all made sense: Mel's athletic side wasn't a coincidence, she had inherited it.
"We, the Castles, have always had boundless energy," my father said proudly. "Just like my wife's family. We can't stay still."
"That explains why Mel never gets tired," I commented without thinking.
Silence fell suddenly. Everyone present looked at me in surprise, and I didn't understand why until I saw Mel lower her gaze, a faint blush on her cheeks. My mother raised an eyebrow, and my mother-in-law cleared her throat before intervening to break the tension:
"Tomorrow we could go skiing if the weather is like today," she said, clearly changing the topic intentionally.
Then I understood the double meaning of my words. I felt my cheeks burn, but I didn't say anything. I had never meant it that way; it was they who had misinterpreted.
By night, exhaustion weighed heavily on both of us. I closed the door to our room and let out a long sigh.
"This day felt like it would never end," I murmured, exhausted.
I turned and bumped into something solid.
"Ouch, Mel!" I complained, rubbing my forehead. "Why are you standing there like a statue?"
She remained still, looking around with an indecisive expression.
"There's no couch," she responded almost in a whisper.
I froze. I searched the room, hoping to find some chair or furniture, but there was nothing. Panic immediately set in. That could only mean one thing: we would have to sleep together.
Several seconds passed, feeling like an eternity, before I could calm down. I forced myself to speak as naturally as possible, though my heart was pounding like it wanted to leap out of my chest.
"Alright, we'll sleep together," I said, trying to sound calm. "You don't mind, do you?" I asked, a knot forming in my stomach.
Mel looked at me without saying a word. For a moment, the tension returned to the air.
"I don't think it's right," she replied, disturbed.
And it wasn't, I thought. Since that night, I feel I can't behave as I did before. To be honest, I can't control myself when I'm alone with her, and I fear doing something stupid. There's something about her presence that disarms me, an almost magnetic attraction that pulls me in irresistibly, as if every glance from her is an impossible magnet to resist.
.......
Narrator
Judith and Mel had no choice but to accept their fate: sleep together. Mel was so nervous that she kept repeating to herself that she could do it, that it was just sleep, nothing more. She went into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and took a deep breath. Her reflection returned a shaky gaze, full of doubt.
"It's okay. You can do this," she whispered to herself. "Remember, she's your friend… and, above all, remember she loves Amber."
That last phrase hurt more than she would have liked to admit, but it was necessary to maintain the boundaries her heart was determined to cross.
Meanwhile, Judith wasn't in a better situation. Her heart raced erratically, pounding against her chest as she tried not to show her anxiety. When she saw Mel leave the bathroom in her pajamas—long pants and a top that covered most of her body—she couldn't help but feel an irrational relief.
Both remained silent. They couldn't speak, because images of that night after the party they attended together replayed in their minds. It was such a vivid memory that they could still feel the warmth of the moment and the confusion that followed. The distance between them, separated on either side of the bed, felt minimal, almost symbolic, as if a single movement could erase it.
That night, as silence dominated the room, a snowstorm began to lash the residence. The wind howled fiercely, battering the windows and making the lights flicker. Within minutes, the heating stopped working. A biting cold seeped into every corner of the house.
Noticing the drop in temperature, Mel immediately got up to check the thermostat. When she saw it wasn't responding, she went over to the bed.
"Judith… the heating is broken," she warned, her voice filled with concern.
Both of them went down to the living room, where Mel's parents, her grandfather, and my parents were already gathered, all wrapped in blankets, trying to keep warm. The butler explained that the staff was checking the system, but a few minutes later he returned with bad news: the heating system had overheated due to the storm and was completely broken.
There was nothing to be done that night. Everyone lamented their fate, and the butler, along with two maids, handed out more blankets to try to endure the freezing cold that battered the residence. All that remained was to wait it out until dawn, hoping the storm would pass soon… though for Mel and Judith, the real whirlwind was not outside, but within them.
The cold was unbearable. The room felt like a block of ice, and Judith shivered under the sheets as if her body couldn't generate even the slightest trace of heat. Unlike her, Mel stayed surprisingly warm—not because she had more clothing, but because her body seemed to withstand the frigid climate better, even though she was allergic to it. Judith, on the other hand, was far too sensitive to the cold; her hands were numb, and her breath came out in small visible puffs in the dim light.
Mel noticed this, not only from the clenching of Judith's jaw but also because she hurried under the covers, seeking warmth that wasn't there.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, crawling under the sheets as well.
"Yes," Judith replied through clenched teeth, shivering, though her trembling voice betrayed her.
Mel didn't insist. In silence, she moved closer, until they were very near. Without overthinking it, she wrapped her arms around Judith, trying to warm her with her own body. As she did, she felt as though she were embracing a block of ice; the contrast was so strong that a shiver ran down her spine. She wanted to believe it was just the cold, but she knew it wasn't entirely true.
Judith, in turn, felt Mel's warmth spreading through her body, slowly melting the stiffness in her muscles. Her breath caught at being so close; her chest rose and fell in a rapid, uncontrolled rhythm. Every second under those blankets felt eternal, and the boundary between desire and confusion grew more blurred.
She tried to convince herself that it meant nothing, that she was only seeking warmth, that it was a human reaction to the cold. But her mind began betraying her with thoughts she shouldn't have. Just once, she told herself, just to satisfy this ridiculous attraction, and then everything will go back to normal.
But that thought—so naive, dangerous, and immature—was enough to push her forward. Without considering the consequences, Judith moved over Mel, straddling her.
Mel froze, paralyzed by surprise. She didn't know how to react. Judith wasn't drunk like the last time; she was fully conscious, completely aware—just like her. And that made the situation even more disorienting.
Under the sheets, in the darkness that enveloped them, Mel felt the full weight of Judith's body over hers, the brush of her skin, the silence charged with something she couldn't name.
"What are you—?" she tried to ask, but couldn't finish the sentence.
Judith kissed her without restraint, without thinking of consequences, as if the world had stopped at that moment. It was an impulsive, urgent kiss, but also filled with a repressed need. And although neither of them knew it yet, the consequences of that act would be irreversible.
Almost instinctively, Mel brought her hands to Judith's face. She held it tenderly, fearfully, completely. She kissed her back, so sweetly that for a moment she believed they wouldn't go any further. That slow, deep, affectionate kiss completely disarmed her. And it was precisely because of that kiss, that mix of innocence and desire, that Mel didn't want to stop.
The sheets became their refuge, the silence their accomplice, and the cold… an excuse to get closer.
Mel slowly slid Judith's blouse up, her hands trembling—not from the cold, but from something much deeper. Her fingers brushed against Judith's skin with a delicacy that seemed to carry a thousand unspoken words. Judith, without looking away, mirrored the gesture and removed Mel's blouse. In an instant, their torsos were bare, barely touching, breathing the same air thick with desire and confusion.
Though the darkness prevented them from seeing clearly, their hands became the eyes that explored the unknown. Each other's skin was warm, alive—a map of sensations etched into their minds without realizing it. Every caress became its own language, a silent confession they both understood without a word.
The sensation was almost hypnotic. Neither could keep their hands still. It was as if the need consumed them completely: they needed to feel, to touch, to remember that they were there, together. All rational thought disappeared, leaving only the other's body, the shallow breathing, the shared trembling beneath the sheets.
That night, they surrendered to desire with the innocence and clumsiness of those who don't know what comes next. They made love again and again, unhurried, unafraid, until exhaustion took over. Finally, they fell asleep, entwined, their bodies interlocked and their hearts still racing.
Dawn found them, but it wasn't the first rays of sunlight that interrupted their rest. It was the soft knock on the door and the voice of Judith's mother that startled them awake.
"Judith, darling," called a voice from the other side, "are you awake yet?"
The shock was immediate. Both of them sprang up at once, and the sheets tumbled to the floor, leaving their torsos exposed. Judith blushed instantly at the sight of Mel standing before her; Mel, equally flustered, stepped back, and with nowhere else to go, fell off the edge of the bed onto the floor, her heart racing.
Judith's mother's voice rang out again, filled with concern. She had woken up anxious and, upon seeing that her son was safe at home with his wife, had felt a strange intuition. That's why she decided to check on her daughter.
"Yes," Judith replied, her voice trembling, trying to sound calm though fear betrayed her.
Of course, her mother noticed something was off. The insecure tone, the pauses, the nervousness—it all hinted that something wasn't right. Suspecting trouble, she asked to be let in. At the sound of that, Mel bolted to the bathroom completely naked, desperately trying not to be discovered. Her heart pounded so fiercely that she feared it might be heard through the door.
Meanwhile, Judith rummaged through the sheets for her clothes with trembling hands. In her rush, she didn't notice she had put on Mel's pants and her own blouse. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and opened the door with a forced smile, pretending that nothing was wrong.
Her mother looked at her for barely a second—and she knew. First, she recognized the pants—they were Mel's. Second, her daughter was restless, shifting from side to side as if trying to hide something. And third, the most obvious: Mel's blouse hung over the bed, and Judith's pajama pants lay on the floor.
Her heart sank. In an instant, all the pieces fell into place. Her gaze clouded with a mixture of surprise and disappointment. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. How long had this been happening, she wondered. What happened to all the love my daughter claimed to feel for Amber?
The silence became unbearable. Judith couldn't meet her mother's eyes, and Mel, from the bathroom, held her breath, as if any exhale would give her away.
Everything was confusing for Judith's mother. Her mind struggled to piece together what she had just witnessed, but the puzzle didn't quite fit. She couldn't confront her at that moment—not with the bewilderment reflected in her daughter's eyes. So she chose to stay silent. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to remain composed, and in a calm voice said:
"Come down for breakfast soon, okay?"
Judith nodded nervously and closed the door as soon as her mother walked away. For a moment, she believed she had managed to deceive her. Her heart still raced, and the weight of what had happened lingered around her like a veil.
Meanwhile, Mel remained in the bathroom, completely naked and frozen. The adrenaline from the scare began to fade, replaced by a deeper fear—the fear of facing what she had just done. She stared at herself in the mirror, pale-faced and eyes unfocused, trying to comprehend how something so intense and beautiful could simultaneously feel so dangerous.
Summoning courage, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out slowly. Judith, upon seeing her, averted her gaze. It wasn't modesty exactly, but a mix of guilt and confusion neither of them knew how to handle. A dense, uncomfortable silence rose between them, filled with unspoken words.
They didn't know how to start that conversation, so instead of speaking, they remained quiet. But the silence didn't mean pretending nothing had happened; it was quite the opposite. In the days that followed, they let their true feelings emerge, without filters or excuses. Mel stopped scolding herself for her actions and allowed herself to feel, giving fully to what her heart had already decided. Judith, on the other hand, stopped punishing herself and let Mel see how much she cared, how much affection she had developed in such a short time.
During that week, they acted as if the world had stopped just for them. In the mornings, they played around, exchanging knowing glances and small gestures of affection. They flirted subtly, and though they tried to maintain composure around their parents, a certain closeness was impossible to hide. To outsiders, they seemed like a real couple—and indeed, they were, even if neither had admitted it out loud.
To Mel's parents, it was puzzling. At first, they thought it was another situation like the one with Jade, but soon realized it was different: there was tenderness, there was devotion.
Judith's father was also confused. He knew they had agreed to pretend to be in a relationship to convince Mel's grandfather, but this "act" seemed to have exceeded the bounds of a simple game.
The only one who truly understood was Judith's mother. The revelation the day she checked on her exposed that her daughter and Mel were no longer just friends. There was something more between them, something they tried to hide but that even silences betrayed. They could pretend during the day, behave normally in front of others, but when night fell and they were alone, barriers melted away.
And she wasn't wrong. Every night, in the bedroom, they surrendered to attraction, desire, and a deeper feeling Judith still struggled to define—though Mel knew perfectly well: she was in love with her.
However, nothing could last forever. Soon, reality caught up. Judith and Mel had to return to their routines and responsibilities, facing the consequences of having surrendered to each other.
When their time together ended, Mel's grandfather was more than convinced that his plan had worked. For him, there was no longer any doubt: his granddaughter loved Judith, and that union must not end. From the start, everything had been orchestrated with precision: he wanted them to spend uninterrupted time together so they could discover what they truly felt for each other.
He had used a mix of manipulation and calculated psychology, knowing his granddaughter needed to behave, practice her role, and above all, allow Judith to help her. Indeed, it was that shared time that ultimately bonded them more than anyone had imagined.
The catalyst had been that trip, that forced closeness which ended up revealing the truth they both feared to admit.