<b>Chapter </b><b>147 </b>


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    Silence stretched, the ticking of a wall clock filling it. Nivera fiddled with her fork. “He… he said things. Hurtful things. I shouldn’t let it get to me, but…” She trailed off, frustrated with herself.


    “But it did,” Marceline finished gently. “Because you care. Because whether you like it or not, his words matter to you.”


    Nivera looked down. “I don’t know why I even expected him to be supportive. It was the final day of the photoshoot, and he–he just dismissed it. Like it didn’t mean anything.” Her throat tightened. “And then he left without a thought.”


    Marceline reached across the table, her hand covering Nivera’s. “You’re right to feel hurt. He should have cared. He should have shown it.”


    “He should,” Nivera agreed.


    “If you choose not to be with Alejandro,” Marceline continued softly, “you will have my full support.”


    Nivera’s eyes snapped up in surprise. “You… you’d take my side? Most mothers would defend their sons.”


    “But I’m not most mothers. And I know my son–his brilliance, his warmth, and his ws. Especially his ws.”


    Nivera looked up, startled. “You’d really take my side over his?”


    A small smile tugged at Marceline’s lips. “I’d take your side because it is the right one. Alejandro doesn’t always see clearly when his pride is involved. He takes after his father too much in that way.”


    Her voice dimmed, her eyes flickering with something deeper, darker. Pain. Nivera knew Marceline had suffered in her marriage, though she didn’t know the full extent.


    Marceline continued, “You deserve to be happy, Nivera. If he doesn’t give you that, then my loyalty lies with you.”


    Something inside Nivera trembled. She wanted to cry, but instead she smiled weakly. “Thank you.”


    They spoke for a long time after that, about Alejandro’s good moments and his impossible ones. Nivera admitted, reluctantly, that he wasn’t always cold. Sometimes, he could be almost… warm.


    “He used to have a dog when he was young,” Marceline said suddenly, her eyes distant with memory.


    “A beautiful white shepherd. He adored that animal. He’d spend hours with it in the garden, feeding it, teaching it tricks, and even sneaking it scraps from the dinner table. He was so warm with that dog. Warmer than I ever saw him with people. Until…” She paused.


    “Well tet’s just say that warmth didn’tst long in our house.”


    Marceline gave her a knowing look. “It reminds me of the way he is with you sometimes, Sharp edges, yes, but there’s warmth underneath. You bring it


    out in him.”


    Marceline gave her a knowing look. “Perhaps you should get a pet, darling. Sometimes love blooms easiest in small acts of care.”


    That seemed like a nice idea, as she had always wanted a dog as well, but then again, if Alejandro didn’t want one, he would lose his flip.


    As if reading her mind, Marceline continued, “Plus/if he doesn’t want one and loses his cool, you get a little payback


    At the sound of that, Nivera’s lips quirked up into a smile as she could imagine it.


    By the time Marceline rose, smoothing her blouse and apologizing that she had to return to work, the house felt like it had wrapped Nivera in a cocoon. A


    safe haven.


    Before leaving, Marceline touched her arm. “If you ever need an escape from Alejandro,e here. Your name is already in the system. He could track you back to your home. He might even storm my mansion. But this house he doesn’t really know it, and he wouldn’t think to look. It will be thest


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    ce on his mind.”


    Nivera nodded, her throat tight. “Thank you.”


    “I have to return to work, but you’re wee to stay as long as you want.”


    Marceline then smiled, kissed her cheek, and left.


    The house fell quiet after she was gone. For the first time in what felt like weeks, Nivera allowed herself to simply sit in silence, soaking in the warmth of a ce that didn’t carry Alejandro’s shadow in every corner.


    She was curled on the sofa when her phone rang again. She nced at the screen and saw Zabelle’s name. A smile tugged at her lips as she answered.


    “Hey, Zabelle,” Nivera answered after a few rings. “What’s up?”


    “Hi, Nivera.” Zabelle’s voice was shaky, as though she were trying and failing to keep it steady, which made Nivera frown.


    “I… I hope I’m not bothering you, but are you free right now? I was wondering if you’d be up for hanging out.”


    “Of course,” Nivera said without hesitation, sitting upright. “Is everything okay? Your voice is shaky.”


    “Not really,” Zabelle admitted after a pause. “It’s been a rough day, and I could use somepany. If you’re busy, I totally understand—”


    “Don’t even worry about it,” Nivera cut her off. “Come over. I’ll text you my address. We can talk, or not talk, whatever you feel like.”


    “Thank you, Nivera. I really appreciate it.”


    “Anytime,” Nivera said. “See you soon.”


    When the call ended, Nivera typed the address to Marceline’s warm little house and sent it over. She leaned back against the chair, staring at the ceiling. For now, this house was her shelter.


    Goodness, Marceline was such an angel.


    AD


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