Page 54 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

He spun me around gently, his eyes locking onto mine. Before I could say anything, he leaned in and kissed me. It was a soft yet passionate kiss, one that spoke volumes. My heart fluttered, and I lost myself in the moment, savoring his taste.

“Hey, you,” I murmured against his lips when we finally broke apart.

“Hey yourself,” he replied, his voice a low, soothing rumble. He held me close, his hands warm against my back. There was something in his eyes, a look that made my heart clench with concern. “Everything okay?” I asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

Rafael smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, everything’s fine,” he said, though his tone was unconvincing.

I frowned, searching his face for answers. “Rafe, I know you. What’s on your mind?”

He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he realized he couldn’t hide from me. “I want you to meet my parents,” he said finally, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach flutter.

His words took me by surprise. “Really?” I asked, my voice tinged with both excitement and apprehension.

“Really,” he confirmed, his smile more genuine now. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I want them to know the amazing woman I’m about to marry.”

I felt a surge of emotion, my eyes welling up slightly. “I’d love to meet them.”

He hugged me tighter, and I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “You have no idea how much you mean to me,” he whispered into my hair.

We stood like that, wrapped up in each other, before I remembered the food. “I should finish this,” I said with a laugh, reluctantly pulling away.

Rafael grinned. “Need any help?”

“Just be my taste tester,” I replied, as I faced the stove. “Your opinion is invaluable.”

The rest of the evening passed by in a blur of laughter. We sat down to eat, inhaling the meal I had prepared. Rafael praised my cooking, as he always did, making me blush with his compliments. We talked about our day and our wedding.

Later that night, as we lay in bed, I thought about the upcoming weekend. Meeting Rafael’s parents was a daunting prospect, but it was also an opportunity to deepen our bond. I wanted to make a good impression, to show them the love and respect I had for their son.

Rafael must have sensed my thoughts because he reached out, taking my hand. “You’re going to be amazing, Yasmin. They’re going to love you.”

I squeezed his hand, finding comfort in his words. “I hope so. I really do.”

He pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me. “Trust me. You have nothing to worry about.”

As I drifted to sleep, wrapped in his embrace, I felt a sense of peace. Whatever the future held, I knew we would face it together. And that was all that mattered.

-38-

Rafael

When Yasmin and I pulled up to my parent's house, I could feel the tension rolling off her in waves. She's been nervous since we got into the car, twisting her hands in her lap and clenching her fists. I knew why she was anxious and not for the first time I wished I could strangle Ethan. Ethan was awful to her, but his mom and sister were just as bad, and the mention of a prenup from my parents didn't help calm her nerves.

"Hey," I said softly, taking her hand in mine. "I promise you; my parents are not like Ethan's. They just want to make sure I'm protected. They won't push it beyond that."

She glanced at me, her eyes wide and unsure. "But what if they don't like me, Rafael? What if... what if this becomes another nightmare?"

I squeezed her hand, feeling the smooth warmth of her skin against my palm. "If at any point you feel uncomfortable, just say the word and we'll leave. You're my priority, Yasmin. They will have to respect that."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Thank you, I needed to hear that."

We stepped out of the car, the sun warm on our backs as we walked up the stone steps to the front door. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This was a big moment, and I wanted everything to go smoothly. I knocked on the door, and within seconds, it swung open to reveal my mom's beaming face.

"Rafael! Yasmin! Welcome!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug before turning to Yasmin. "You must be Yasmin. We've heard so much about you!"

Yasmin offered a tentative smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Amato."

"Oh, please, call me Carina," she replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Come in, both of you. Lunch is ready in the backyard."

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