Page 204 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

There had been a look of wistfulness on her face that had given him a pang of uncertainty. She needed to find her place here, and he wanted to help her find ways to do it. Already his mind was casting about for ideas that would play to Mia’s strengths—her friendliness, easy manner and her ability to turn her hand to just about anything. Could she be involved with the staff, or maybe the estate’s social media? He didn’t want to pressure her, but he wanted her to have something to do to feel involved and important. He would talk about it with her when he gave her a tour, he decided. They could plan their future here together.

In the estate office, at least, he knew what he was about. It felt good, surprisingly so, to settle back into the matters of business he knew so well—the forthcoming olive harvest, messages with suppliers and a new fertiliser to try. He spent an hour talking to his manager, Antonio, before he left him to his own devices to tackle his own overflowing inbox. Santos was steadily working through his messages when he heard a light yet authoritative tap on the door.

‘Come in,’ he called, his tone a bit brusque, as he was focused on his work.

‘I hope I’m not disturbing you,’ his mother replied tartly as came into his office.

‘Madre!’Santos stood up, surprised to see his mother in the office block near the orange grove. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d ventured in there; she had always left the estate work first to her husband, then to her son. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘You tell me,mi hijo,’ she replied, folding her arms as she arched one eyebrow. ‘I did not expect you to bring your errant wife back here.’

Santos stiffened before he forced himself to relax. When he’d brought Mia back the first time, much to his mother’s shock, she’d murmured something about true love and made no objections—although admittedly he’d felt her censure, or at least her concern, in every eloquent look and taut remark. He’d weathered them because he understood why she was so worried, and he’d assumed things would settle down. Now, however, it seemed as if his mother had decided to be blunter.

Well, then, so would he. ‘What did you think I would do,’ he replied mildly, ‘When I went to find her?’

‘I thought you’d come to your senses!’ his mother burst out before she pressed her lips together. Like a true Aguila, she did not like to show emotion. Sometimes Santos wondered if she even liked to feel it.

‘And do what?’ he asked in the same mild voice, although there was a dangerous edge to it.Come to his senses?He’d come to his senses when he’d found Mia, when he’d convinced her to come back with him. ‘Divorce her?’

‘I spoke to Rodrigo,’ his mother replied, naming their family’s lawyer. ‘He said he thought a divorce could be dealt with quite quickly.’

Santos swore under his breath. He knew his mother was a strong-willed woman, but this was taking things too far, even for her. ‘I don’t want a divorce, Madre. Neither does Mia.’

‘And yet she left you,’ his mother pointed out ruthlessly. ‘Santos, how can you hold your head up in this community with a wife like that? She has caused so much gossip—she will bring shame to this family! She already has.’

‘Careful, Madre,’ Santos replied with lethal softness. ‘This is my wife you’re talking about.’

‘Very well, then, I will speak more plainly,’ his mother retorted, her voice rising. ‘Youbring shame to this family, Santos, by returning here with her! She is not worthy of you, of this place.’ She spoke flatly now, her voice ringing out with awful certainty. ‘You will never be able to hold your head up among your staff, or your peers, with this woman by your side.’

‘Madre, you overstep yourself,’ Santos replied. He felt his face heat and his hands balled into fists. He had had no idea that his mother felt this strongly, thisterribly, about Mia, although he realised wretchedly that Mia had tried to tell him. ‘You don’t know her at all—’

‘I don’twantto know her!’ his mother snapped. ‘Sheabandonedyou, Santos!’

He clenched his hands harder to keep himself from doing something stupid like punching a wall. His mother had never spoken so plainly, so viciously, before. He’d thought she was a reasonable woman, but now she seemed to be lashing out in emotion—emotion he resented her feeling. Her reaction left him winded, reeling and also utterly furious. ‘There were reasons for that—’

‘There was a reason for you to stay married before,’ his mother cut across him. ‘Because of the baby, as unfortunate an occurrence as that was. It was an act of God that she miscarried.’

‘Don’t.’Santos’s voice was swift and deadly. ‘Do not talk about my child like that.’

‘Santos.’ His mother held her arms out towards him, her expression crumpling into distress. ‘I want only what is best for you, for our family, and this...this gold-digger...is not it. Of that, I am sure.’

‘She’s not a gold-digger,’ Santos replied stonily, hating the thought that his mother could entertain such a notion, even for a second. ‘She didn’t even take the clothes and jewels I bought her when she left.’ He thought of Mia’s one battered backpack and his heart ached with love and sorrow.

‘Pfft...’His mother shrugged in dismissal. ‘You didn’t sign a pre-nuptial agreement. She would have received a hefty payment in the divorce settlement. She would have been counting on that.’

‘And yet she came back with me,’ Santos reminded her.

‘Did she never suggest divorce to you?’ his mother challenged. ‘I’m sure she would have been canny about it, but I can guess what she wants.’

Santos was silent as he remembered how Mia had first asked for a divorce back on the yacht. She hadn’t asked for money then, but would she have? He would have given it to her, he still would, but the memory of it created a splinter of doubt in his soul that he desperately did not want to feel. He loved Mia. She loved him.

And yet she’s never actually said the words.

He was the only one who had, more than once. Mia had responded with kisses, with smiles, but never with those three little words. He keenly felt the lack of them now.

He wheeled round so his back was to his mother as he raked a hand through his hair. He did not want to think this way or feel this way. And yet...he did. It hadn’t taken long at all for the doubts to come rushing back, and he was determined to keep them at bay. To trust his love for Mia...and her love for him, even if she hadn’t said the words.

‘Santos.’ His mother’s voice turned soft and gentle as she came to stand behind him, resting one hand on his shoulder. ‘You have a reputation, aname, to live up to. I understand you didn’t care for Isabella Ruiz, as suitable as she was, and heaven knows your father intended for you to marry her. But there will be another woman who is of our class, our station, for you to marry. Who understands what it means to bear the responsibility you do and who respects the name of Aguila.’

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